Roy Glendon Earl Lewis, who fatally stabbed his step-nephew after he spurned his intimate advances, was on Tuesday sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment, following a guilty plea to the lesser count of manslaughter.
His wails for mercy did not deter the intention of the judge to send a strong message to similar would-be offenders.
Justice Franklyn Holder, while describing the killing as “barbaric,” “heinous,” and “despicable” observed that Lewis premeditated to kill the teenager and had hounded him to achieve his goal.
Addressing Lewis, who stood in the dock with his hands clasped, the Judge said, “You snuffed out the life of a human being in the prime of his life. The post-mortem report indicated that nine wounds were inflicted on Devon Lewis. Four of those wounds were stab wounds which shows your inductiveness… You violated the privacy of others, by invading a home.
“…From the time he was a minor you hounded him. You violated trust as an adult….
“In sentencing you I will start at 25 years. I have added 12 years for the aggravating factors.” On hearing this, the prisoner exclaimed, “Have mercy! Have mercy!” as he crouched in the dock, grabbing his head with his hands.
Continuing, Justice Holder explained that he has deducted seven years for the plea of guilt, nine months for remorse shown and three years and three months for time spent.
“I have reduced your sentence by 11 years,” Justice Holder said. “You are sentenced to 26 years. You are not entitled to parole until after 20 years.”
Interrupting, Lewis, with outstretched arms, said, “Your Honour I throw myself to the mercy of the court. I ask for a lighter sentence…”
“Take him away!” the judge ordered the Prison Officer, who quickly escorted the prisoner out of the court, but not before residents of his village, who were present in the courtroom embraced him, whilst telling him to keep the faith.
Very sorry
Earlier, Lewis, addressing the court, said, “Your Honour I am very sorry for what I did to Devon Anthony Lewis. He was my relative and we were living good prior to his demise. I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy to his parents, along with his brothers and sisters and I ask that they forgive me for my action. I am very sorry and I throw myself at the mercy of the court.”
State appointed defence counsel Sasha Roberts had reminded the court that her client did not waste the court’s time and requested that justice be tempered with mercy.
Lewis was initially indicted for murder, but had pleaded not guilty to the capital offence, and guilty to the lesser count, which was accepted by the State.
He fatally wounded Devon Lewis on December 27, 2012 as he lay asleep with his girlfriend at her home at Back Street, Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice.
Carl Lewis, father of the deceased, told Egla October, Senior Probation and Social Services Officer, during an interview that he was unhappy with the manslaughter plea being accepted by the state, and opined that the initial charge should have remained as his son Devon Lewis was stabbed multiple times, even as he was asleep.
This disclosure was made before Justice Holder, at the Berbice Assizes, according to the probation report, the parent disclosed that his brother Roy, had been warned repeatedly to stay away from the juvenile, who he (the parent) treated like a biological son and whose name he had changed from Da Silva.
Another sibling, Rawle Lewis reported that upon hearing of his older brother’s behaviour, he also warned him to desist from such actions, but the convict had denied the allegations made by the now deceased, the report said.
Roxanne Lewis, mother of the deceased, told the Probation Officer that Roy Lewis once lived at their home. However, after an incident whereby Roy Lewis was caught choking her son, whom she heard crying out for help, her husband instructed his brother, to remove from the Sisters Village home. He went to his sister’s home at 1224 Glasgow Housing Scheme, another East Bank Berbice location. Nevertheless, he would frequently return to Sisters Village.
Knife attack
Subsequently, after a knife attack by Roy, Devon Lewis was sent to the home of his aunt Ramona Haniff, who reported that Roy Lewis would call Devon’s cell phone incessantly. As a result, Devon was very uneasy and would jump at the slightest unexpected sound. This caused her to question her nephew about the phone calls that he was not answering, and his behaviour, as she had not been told by her sister why Devon was sent to her during a period when he should have been in school, the report said.
She indicated that Devon would normally spend time with her, however, not when school was in session, and this time she had observed his behaviour to be different. Haniff told the Probation Officer that she had questioned her sister Roxanne about Devon’s welfare and was told what had been disclosed by Devon, but that family members had spoken to Roy Lewis about his behaviour and as such Devon could return to his Sisters Village home.
Eight months prior, a report had been made to the Probation and Social Services Department that Roy Lewis was intimately involved with the teenager, then aged 17 years, 9 months.
Devon’s parents were contacted and in the presence of his parents, a child protection officer and a probation officer, Devon confirmed the report. He also disclosed that he had told his parents, but they did not do anything about it. The teen claimed to be fearful for his life, as Roy Lewis would often threaten him and that he was forced to leave his home approximately five times due to Roy Lewis’s behaviour.
Carl Lewis had told the officers that he had spoken to his brother about his behaviour and cautioned him to stay away from Devon. As a result, Devon was temporarily placed in the custody of his stepfather’s aunt Celestine Reid at Martin Luther Scheme, and the matter was referred to the Juvenile Officer at the Central Police Station.
Roy Lewis was charged and granted bail. However, according to the Probation Report, Devon’s parents had gone to the police station and requested that the matter be discontinued. This was after family members and relatives had spoken to Roy Lewis to desist from having any contact with Devon.
However, Roy Lewis soon found out that Devon was staying at Reid’s home and continued his actions, as such the child was removed from her home. Reid said the teenager was so afraid that his father began taking him to and from school.
No sooner had Devon gained employment at Caricom Cement Factory at Everton, East Bank Berbice than Roy Lewis gained employment at the same entity where he continued to stalk the teen.
The Probation Report said Devon then left his place of employment and relocated with his maternal aunt Nicola Piggott at Coomacka, Demerara, where he stayed until he returned to spend the Christmas holidays with his siblings, parents and girlfriend.
His girlfriend Ashley Whyte, said they were asleep at her Back Street, Sisters Village home, when she was awakened by a noise in her bedroom and saw Roy Lewis inflicting wounds on Devon. She shouted for help and tried to leave the house. She said, her brother had left the home and she had failed to lock the door on his departure; thus the door had been open. However, it was allegedly bolted by Roy Lewis, after he entered the home. The Probation Report said Whyte indicated that her parents, who were asleep in the lower flat of the two-flat building, heard her cries and rescued her.
Her mother Glenis Whyte had stated that earlier in the day, while they were all at a Fun Day in the Sister’s Village playground, Roy Lewis kept following Devon around and there had been a verbal confrontation between them.
State Counsel was Natasha Backer.
