The life imprisonment sentence of Roger George, age 47 of Colihaut, has been commuted to 15 years resulting in him now being a free man.
George, who was found guilty of the murder if his girlfriend in 1999, was sentenced to death by hanging on October 21 of that year.
According to the facts of the case, the deceased, Elfra Joseph, and George had relocated to Dominica from Saint Maarten in 1998 and lived in separate homes.
On November 9, 1998, Joseph asked George to meet him to have a conversation as she wanted to end their relationship because he was not supporting their child.
They met, spoke and George then left on his motorcycle. However, moments after the pair was seen walking on the street and the deceased was later heard screaming and George was seen stabbing Joseph. Joseph was subsequently taken to the hospital but died on the way.
The pathologist who was assigned to the matter described Joseph as having received multiple incision wounds, three of which penetrated her chest cavity.
The following year, a jury found George guilty of murder and he was sentenced to death but this was later commuted to manslaughter by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) on March 27, 2000, and he was sentenced to life in prison.
Through his lawyer Zena Moore Dyer, he appealed to the court of appeal on October 4, 2019, asking the court to review his sentence as “time served” but that application was dismissed.
He then went back to the High court and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Evelina Baptiste consented stating that given the new learning in law George had served his time.
Yesterday, George was brought before High court Judge, Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts for a fixed term for the offense.
In handing down her decision to commute the life sentence, Justice Adrien-Roberts started with the maximum penalty for the charge of manslaughter, 15 years.
Her Ladyship did not add or reduce any time as the file of the case could not be found and based on this, she stated she could not weigh the mitigating and aggravating factors.
She did however take into consideration the social inquiry report, which said that George is amenable to rehabilitation and has improved himself academically whilst incarcerated which will go towards his benefit of seeking employment whilst reintegrating back into society.
From the report, it was also made known that George though incarcerated, was afforded the opportunity to develop a relationship with his son and they continued to share good relations.
George had also expressed remorse and had apologized and made amends with the deceased mother and children.
As of August 2020, the defendant was reported to have served 23 years in prison, as such he was discharged for time served.
Meantime, the State also discontinued a matter against Garth James Lewis who was charged with Taking Conveyance.
Lewis was accused of stealing one Suzuki Escudo jeep and several other items from Christopher Dangleben on February 21, 2011, with a total value of $27,257.00.
Though his matter was discontinued, he had to remain in jail as he is in custody for another matter.
Among other matters from the court, the State did not accept a guilty plea of Unlawful Wounding from Ishmael Hudson Vidal who is charged with Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) with intent and Unlawful Wounding.
Vidal, who is accused of causing GBH to Nyron Jeffers on June 27, 2015, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge. However, the DPP did not accept his plea and asked for a trial.
The matter was adjourned to February 19, 2021, for case management and the accused will remain on remand until such time unless an application for bail is made for him.
The State did, however, accept a guilty plea of Unlawful Wounding from Thomas Poponne Jr. who was also charged with causing GBH with intent, to Gerald Ettienne, in Fond Cole on November 24, 2020.
Poponne’s bail was continued in his own recognisance in the sum of $25,000.00 as he awaits sentencing which is set for February 26, 2021.
Francis Theodore of Portsmouth is also on bail awaiting trial after having pleaded not guilty to GBH with intent and Unlawful wounding.
Theodore is accused of causing GHB to Anderson Drigo on February 19, 2019, in Portsmouth. He was asked not to interfere with the Virtual Complainant (VC) and any other State witness as part of his $10,000.00 bail condition.
Two men who also pleaded not guilty to sex-related matters, are also on bail awaiting trial.
Hello and good morning my people. Well George Murder conviction was reduced to Manslaughter because his lawyer claimed that he suffered from mental illnesses. I hope they will monitor him and have him report to the police every month and they must keep his DNA profile on file.
the man stabbed my family over ten times. about five stab wounds in the back that piecered through her breast… then he cut her throat….. original gowpwel man,
now how can this be reduced to manslaughter. manslaughter is unintensional taking of one life, its like an accident……. and that man rode his motocycle with a knife sharpend to kill from calihaut. how can that be manslaughter
that is one corrupt legal system……
are there rehabilitation programs in p[lace to support this man after serving 23 years in prison to assist him of recidivism? If that individual is not rehabilitated there is a possibility that he will re-offend in the near future.
What a shame. He left her kids motherless and the system rubbed them a second time. He is not free there is blood all over his hands.
November 24, 2021.
error please not
ADMIN: Thank you for taking the time to point that out. The correction has been made.
From death to life to time served to freedom. Here are the possibilities. Dominica either has the most incompetent justice system in the world, or you are one lucky SOB. This guy should never be allowed to walk in society again. Too many of our young men killing and harming our young women, daughters, friends, niece’s …. And getting a time out. Our society needs to send a message. Our male leaders are abusing and plundering the country and instead we men stand up and fight to protect our children, women, and country we killing each other and destroying our nation. There needs to be a national women strike in Dominica soon and fast. I think women in Dominica need to rise up join forces for needed change. Our men as i have said a long time have abdicated thier role. Time to step up. I may have to invoke Eugenia Charles spirit on the nation.
The court must send an unmistakable message to those men who believe that women are their personal possession/property. Too many ladies’ lives are cut short because some men are too possessive.
This government MUST set up Safe Houses and Protection for battered women so they may have a safe place to go when and if they decide to leave an abusive relationship.
The execution of the fairer sex by men with uncontrollable jealous rate must end.
As they let him go another one murders
23 years later he is free
Yes wii and these are even more reasons y they don’t mind killing pple.
On the other hand 23 years later the woman family still cannot say hello to her…
Hmmmm