Clarence Lewis, who pleaded guilty in the November 3, 2012 murder of Marvlyn Robinson of Giraudel, was on Friday sentenced to 12 years in the slammer.
He pleaded guilty to the crime on March 14.
The notional sentence for murder is 18 years in jail but since Lewis pleaded guilty, one-third of it was removed, reducing the jail time to 12 years.
Court documents show Robinson was killed while she slept and Justice Errol Thomas described the crime as ‘brutal’ and ‘cold blooded.’
He said Lewis killed a woman who trusted him and gave him bread, adding that murder in such forms cannot be tolerated.
However, he stated that Lewis appears to be on a path to reform.
Thomas ordered a psychological report be done on Lewis.
Robinson, 75, was killed at her home in Giraudel in the early hours of November 3, 2012. Police say she died from numerous stab wounds.
Soon after police arrested Lewis and he was charged with murder in the gruesome killing which shocked the nation.
Only 12 years? so every time somebody plead guilty they getting a lower sentence?
IKR Force I vex no sense ! what is 12 years!!
Let he with no sin cast the first stone. Though i truly understand that we all wanted justice for this lady, what about hope for this young man. Lets face it crimes are committed every day and every where not just in DA an analysis is okay however where is the continuous treatment, as there is a thin line always between love and hate and between sanity and insanity. Many of you are saying he did this to a woman who was like his mother, what caused him to snap…think about it can any of us in our normal thinking just kill our “mother” something caused him to snap and hopefully the years he has already spent was used positively. they did say he is on the path of reform, but he cannot do it alone…so instead of casting negative comments and wishing for more misery send a prayer for the young man and send a prayer to the leaders of our country to start working on a much needed rehab, he could come out and kill again yes, but he could come out and become a model citizen. think postive
true…
Well said well said.
hmph boy clarence i never would have guessed you were a psychopath all along.good thing i never trouble you in school wi?
Hmmm, If that was my granny we coming for you yeh boss…
Did he not go to grammar school? face look familiar .rem him as really quiet. Not sure if my memory is correct.
only 12 years?
12YEARS for this man whom all evidence shows it was cold blooded murder.
BUT 25years for Mr.Green a case in which there wasn’t even much evidence to prove he was the one who did the act.only hearsay – (most evidence came from so called witnesses whom at the time was seeking vengeance against Mr.Green because of how he had treated them in the past, not because of the case on hand).
Isay this to ask WHO IS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN DOMINICA REALLY DEALING WITH MURDER. IS IT BASED ON WHAT PEOPLE SAY FOR SOME ACCUSED AND THEN FOR OTHER ACCUSED IS BASED ON EVIDENCE???
WHY 25YR AND 18YRS FOR SOME AND 12YRS AND 8YRS FOR ANOTHER????? THIS NEEDS TO STOP!
You wrote .. “The laws have to be revised or else we are going to have a society where people will commit those heinous crimes in the knowledge that they will one day sooner rather than later walk freely in the society”. Well … people are already committing those crimes with that in mind, just check the Marigot fella or the Grandbay fella, and there may be more. Didn’t Blackmore go thru an exercise to revise the laws? what happened there?
as ‘brutal’ and ‘cold blooded.’ and all he got was 12 years please Dominica wake up!
I maintain murder should be death penalty or life time in jail . Life time means life time you never get out again .
It is time the punishment for MURDER in Dominica is Life imprisonment. We want to do away with the death penalty, ok no problem, but we must let the Murderers know without any doubt, you have been found guilty, or in that case pleaded guilty
you are going to jail FOR LIFE no cutting of sentence, because the person cannot come back and the killer should not come out. The people should ask their parliamentary representatives to ask that the punishment for murder be changed to life.
We cannot have people taking each other life and all they get is a few years. What about the dead person children and parents what satisfaction is there for them Only grief? No put them in jail for life.
very true..
don’t we hang anymore? that man should be heading to the gallows. come on your honour!
Some countries had the death penalty for murder.
Then they abolished the death penalty and brought in a life sentence for murder. But soon life no longer meant life.
It was time off if it was a first offence.
Then more time off if the accused pleaded guilty.
The defence says “Your honor, my client is genuinely remorseful.” More time off!
When the judge pronounces the sentence he says “With credit for time served.”
Be careful now he doesn’t get time off for good behavior!
What is left is a sentence that does not do justice. The accused loses nothing that compares to what the
victim lost: his or her life. A family was plunged into the depth of grief, and a community was badly scared.
The sentence does not equal the crime. It fails to send the appropriate message. In this case the vast majority of DNO commentators do not think 12 years is sufficient. I expect this reflects the thinking of most of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald…
I hope when he is behind bars he has alot of thinking to do. You took a life that was good to you, 12 years is really not enough for the monsterous act you did.
Shame!!! Can anyone explain to me why the justice system is so lenient in Dominica? That is not justice. That is an injustice to the lady. Shame! Shame! Shame! Lady justice is REALLY BLIND.
HANGING! reform for what? he cannot get a job even after he leaves jail, so what do you think he’s going to do? What did he do before he committed this gruesome crime? HANGING needs to be brought back or at least hard labor this way they actually doing something instead of sitting in jail.
Dominica court system is just a place for lawyers and judges to get rich on the sins of others without working hard, there is no justice in dat place.
Well said!
Can we look at these judge’s records of sentences for about 18 lbs of marijuana? It seems to be about the same for this ‘brutal’ and ‘cold blooded’ murder. This guy will be out in 6 years ‘good behavior’. It just seems to me discretion is not used consistently given the shock and anguish this ‘brutal’ and ‘cold blooded’ murder, as stated by the judge, has caused the whole nation. I am in as much shock. Oh my God, how can that be, what is going on?
once again, DNO did not publish my comment….let’s try again.
12 yr sentence is a slap on the wrist.
Rise up people, it’s all very wrong here. It is time our passive society gets it together like the rest of the planet.
No justice, no peace.
On tax payers’ account he might as well be out in 6 to work hard and fend for himself.
These sentencing guidelines must be changed. the punishment must fit the nature of the crime, 12 years imprisonment is certainly not adequate retribution for the heinous and unprovoked attack and death of Ms. Robinson. Who is responsible for changing the guidelines? Please do something!
I am Valantina Robinson the daughter of Marvlyn Robinson and I swear on my mother’s grave that he isn’t going to get away with this. He took my children,nieces and nephews grandmother away from them. The thing that hurts the most is hearing my kids ask me why isn’t grandma her for my birthday or holidays mom and having to tell them that she was brutally taking away from them hurts. I am not the same since I received the news about my mom and her birthdays are the worst because I get depressed. To the murder or murders I hope u remember my mom when u feel happy or enjoying yourself because we her family can’t enjoy wonderful moments with the one person who kept our family together and who was a role model and a pillar to alot of people. Sincerely a hurting daughter.
This is sickening and depressing…….it demonstrates the zero value of someones precious life. Why are we not revising our outdated laws and penalties. This is a shocking crime…against one lovely woman so undeserving of any type of violence…….absolutely ridiculous and shocking this sentence.
Domnique fini bat …
12 yyyyearssss!!! 12 yearsssss!!!! That have ro be a blooody joke now!!!! For murdering a woman just like tthat in her bed man!!!!
The law for murder in DA needs overhauling so that judges may have the flexibility to sentence killers to life when needed.
Twelve (12) years for such heinous crime (murdered while asleep). Garcon you ever heard for an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? Well I think I cool with that, in that case I would make an appointment with my dentist for him.
I am Valantina Robinson the daughter of Marvlyn Robinson and I swear on my mother’s grave that he isn’t going to get away with this. He took my children,nieces and nephews grandmother away from them. The thing that hurts the most is hearing my kids ask me why isn’t grandma her for my birthday or holidays mom and having to tell them that she was brutally taking away from them hurts. I am not the same since I received the news about my mom and her birthdays are the worst because I get depressed. To the murder or murders I hope u remember my mom when u feel happy or enjoying yourself because we her family can’t enjoy wonderful moments with the one person who kept our family together and who was a role model and a pillar to alot of people. Sincerely a hurting daughter.
The system is enabling them criminals. I was planning on coming back home in 2years after retirement, after reading this crap, that’s it for me.. I have a little property in Dominica, it’s going on the market.
T – 12 years…..and counting
What about all the other murder cases? there are murderers on bail walking free for years.
He was still a kid. My heart goes out to this young man and also the family of the deceased. May he find Jesus and begin a new chapter in his life after this ordeal. I know he regretted and is still tormented by what he did.
This is really an outrage.
How are we supposed to have confidence in the justice/legal system when dem judges and magistrates just keep letting us down with these ridiculous judgements.
But the article did say that they couldn’t go past 18 yrs and they even had to give him a “discount” of 6 yrs.
If we Dominicans really serious then we should DEMAND better from the people with the power to change the law and make all dem people who so quick to anger know that you cannot just kill somebody and expect to get what is really just a “slap on the wrist”.
Almost all of us have children. All of us have family.
It’s almost always too late when dem kind of thing there hit too close to home.
Let’s DEMAND better.
There should be some display of public outrage at this very twisted judgement from a very broken “Justice System”.
Not enough jail time for the amount of times he stabbed her, even after all what she did for him.
The murder of Marvlyn did not only shock the nation. Aside from her family, it shocked others who knew her from those days in D/ca and others who knew her when she migrated to the US. More so her family as her brother Donnie, the only brother left from the three sons. I visualize how he, his children and others grieved.
Donnie informed me how difficult it was for him at what occurred to his beloved sister. He also informed me he was taking care of her house and a piece of land he had bought at Giraudel. He was a good agriculturist and had a PhD in Agriculture.
He was strong to withstand the grief of her abnormal passing then. The manner in which his sister died, his grief, the aftermath and exertion caused him to get a heart attack which he succumbed to. Such a nice person.
I visualize if their mother was alive, she would have died of either a heart attack, aneurism or a stroke. She loved her daughter, the only one.
This Robinson family were nice people.
Thanks for the nice words. I am her beautiful daughter and he will see my face soon and realize that he not only took my mom away from her kids but also her grandkids. He took away my bestfriend and there’s no forgiveness for that.
The other day they charge my boyfriend vernan Nicholas 7500 and my cousin Gibson mitchelle a great fine just for trying to provide a meal for their family……but now a man murder the poor lady in her bed while she sleeping and all you sentencing him six years in jail just because he prove guilty. ………Dominica court system sucks the man just going and it eat sleep and fat stocky well the old lady rotting…..when you hold man with drugs all you ready kill them a man steal to eat a bread all you jailing them hard…..they need to bring back hanging as a law
It is difficult to visualize that Marvlyn is no more, murdered by a man she was extremely kind to. He is the height of ingratitude. This will cause others not to be kind to especially strangers.
I heard how he broke into her house when she was away and stole her jewelry more than once. Is this the action of one whom she was kind to?
She filed a complaint and the matter was in Court. He and his grandmother wanted her to quash the case and she refused. This is when he planned to kill her.
Once gone the person cannot return. His prison sentence will never be complete for he must make reparation to God for as long as he lives. He took a life and can never pay for it, be it by a prison sentence.
I hope those who counsel him will inform accordingly. They should know what it entails to make reparation. It means: Worship, fervent prayer, penance and sacrifice so as to appease God for what he did to Marvlyn and also her family who will always grieve her loss.
The judge is empathetic. The man proved to be vicious. He planned to murder her and did so, during the night while she was sleeping and was helpless to defend herself. Even though he spent time in prison, he should be given a full prison sentence for premeditated murder which he deserves.
So he appears to be on the path of reform? What proof? We would like to hear about this from his mouth. Prisoners appear to be reformed but it could be false, only to obtain a lesser sentence.
Follow his life after he is released and see how he lives. I hope he is not released soon for good conduct. They have a way of putting on an act to deceive prison authorities to obtain early release.
I can imagine if her mother was alive, she would surely have died of either a heart attack, aneurism or a stroke. She loved her daughter, the only one.
Marvlyn dear, some of us are still speaking about you and shedding tears at what happened to you which you did not deserve. RIP.
I’m not surprised at all cuz the 2 times killer from marigot already out..he first got 4 years for killing his bro the another 4 years for killing gold teeth and his out roaming the streets till he kills again..
Boyyy I remember gold teeth such a cool guy trained with him CH
He is surely going to kill again for the third time. Who ever thinks that he is going to be reformed?
Now for that young guy who killed that woman who was like a mother to him, deserved a harsher sentence , why should it take 4 years to dispense justice . Something is not right in DA, the system stinks.
The criminals are getting discounts on their sentencing
BEB, whereas you stated he will kill again for the third time, you are saying he this killing is his second.
In that case, any judge who would not commit a hardened criminal like him, a two time murderer to a life sentenced without any possibility of parole is a fool! When that murderer is released from jail any other crime he commits will be cause d by the judge who gave him twelve years.
Anytime someone kill a human one time, they are likely to kill again, killing a human is not a natural thing, therefore when these people are guilty they should be removed from society permanently.
We see it everyday here. I know this man who told me he killed either two or there people, he himself cant even remember how many,the man spent more than half his life in Jail, he is married to a tenant of mine a few weeks age they had fight she pore hot water on out of fear, he told her “don’t go to sleep tonight because I will kill you!
the woman is living in fear!
Mr. Telemaque, I was referring to that young man from Marigot who killed his brother after coming from jail, he again killed that young man “Gold Teeth” If you had taken your time to read and analyze ,I said that he will kill again for the 3rd. time, you would noticed that I later referred to the young guy from New Town.
Is that all her life was worth? Quite encouraging for those who want to do the same.
This reminds us that people in positions of responsibility can still behave in unpredictable and in frankly evil uncontrolled ways.
“Court documents show Robinson was killed while she slept and Justice Errol Thomas described the crime as ‘brutal’ and ‘cold blooded.’”
Well, if you describe the crime as brutal, why did you give him a slap on his risks?
In a modern and civilize world the penalty for premeditated murder, or any form of murder is usually life incarceration, actually twenty-five years in jail is a life sentence, the culprit usually spends twelve and a half years in jail, since a night in jail is counted as a day, unless the murderer was given life without the possibility of parole.
This crap in Dominica means the murder will be back on the streets in about six years, so your talk about brutal cold and bloody is nonsense!
Abate thy rage cuz; It’s not the judge but the system. Note the guidelines. Sentence for murder is 18years and 1/3 removed if one pleads guilty.
Well, if that’s the case, everything has become screwed up since independence!
Those of us who are old enough to remember, will remember when Elijah Prince of Marigot killed Eunice Etnioffe of Wesley, he got a life sentence to jail: I believe he was released between twelve and twenty-five years.
He eventually disappeared during hurricane David, or the other one, so it is obvious while Dominica was a colony of Britain the laws seem different then. But then again only in Dominica.
Those who are not familiar with the murder of Eunice by Elijah, hopefully they will have the opportunity to read about it in my book when it is released! In that same book one will read how the same Murderer Elijah saved me from a vicious attacker who intended to beat me to death, right there in Wesley eh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahah!
And madam Elizabeth, don’t say a word about the name of my book!
What do the guidelines say about 18 lbs of marijuana? Isn’t it the same 6 yrs?
y u so dumb didnt you see that when one pleads quilty the sentence has to be taken down by 33.33% of the maximum-do the maths – that is the law and he has to follow it until it is changed. Do not prove how stupid you continue to be geeez man!!!!!
Francisco, were you in court to get all the evidence why this man only get twelve years? Well old boy you are not as smart as you think you are, having said that i can see why you think this way, But their are limits a court have to work to accordingly to the evidence given to the court…..bye the way i not Mr Tony Astaphan.
Guy, you have already lost both the battle and the war you know: you can pick on me as much as you wish, you will never get me down to your level in the pit hole of feces in which you live!
You are beneath me: What does it matter if you were Tony Astaphan or whatever bit of scum your are?
If I am not afraid of Tony Astaphan do you think I can ever become afraid of a piece of garbage like you?
At least I know Anthony “Tony” Astaphan by name, and in person, I’ve know him way back when he was a boy somewhere between the ages of twelve and thirteen years old, in 1962, I drove Tony home from School, his father, or his uncle, Johnny, or his aunt Maria would send me to take him home!
I worked for J. Astaphan & Co for a brief period in 1962.
Who the hell you think you are talking too, you had better go and kiss the behind of a donkey if you have nothing to do, you damn dunce idiot!
Francisco, were you in court to get all the evidence why this man only get twelve years? Well old boy you are not as smart as you think you are, having said that i can see why you think this way, But their are limits a court have to work to accordingly to the evidence given to the court…..bye the way i am not Mr Tony Astaphan.
slap on his wrists…not risks.
It is unfortunate that he will only spend 12 years for a cold blooded murder. Whether he pleads guilty or not, murder is murder and there should be no exceptions. It is also very unforunate that a murderer only spends 18 years in prison for such heinous crimes.
We have such a WEAK justice system. ?
Rip ms. Robinson..Rip.
he’ll spend 6 full years…..night and day ..
That is why one should take no chances with these thugs. Once the upper hand is gained take him out first
That is very lenient given the heinousness of the crime.
Typical Dominican thug. Typical Dominican slow justice. Now I wait for the typical Dominican reversal of the sentence. Typically, the only people in Dominica who spend time in prison are those who have one lousy ganja joint or who steal a packet of Crix from a shop.
That poor lady, she deserved better…..
Because he pleaded guilty 6 years was removed?
He’ll be out in 6 !!
12 yrs for murder stupes only in DA
12 years in Jail for killing a helpless lady in her bed.
I maintain…I not letting no body kill me eh…self defence
Unfortunately she was sleeping and could not defend herself. If there is a bigger word for heinous, this is it.
I cundt say it better myself. I prefer go take the 12 years vacation stocky and eat some pig meat..
Alas 12 years,that’s all? what’s gonna happen after 12 years. That monster shouldn’t be allowed back into society. Something is really wrong with the the justice system.Our tax payers money gonna pay for his food and board in prison ….look thing
All our laws need revisiting to give them more teeth….I am certainly not impressed,even with 18years jail for a human being life,unless in a case where you were defending yourself from being killed..The lurid and grisly details of this murder were discussed for a very long time on island…..Sorry to those I offend,but I would use the ROPE on him!!!So many of those who kill cherish their own life……Why?
their own lives.
12 years!! You mean 12 years for the brutal and calculated murder of a lady who took care of him? Something has to be wrong with our system of justice. This time I am not blaming the judge. I am blaming those responsible for making the judicary effective. The laws have to be revised or else we are going to have a society where people will commit those heinous crimes in the knowledge that they will one day sooner rather than later walk freely in the society. It will also create a vigilante situation in society where people will tale the law unto themselves because the law as is today is making an “arse” of the value of life. Clarence is on his way to “rehabilitation”? Says who? At the time of the crime he was a junior Lay Preacher and a Scout/Cadet Leader. He had all the attributes of a positive member of the society. Yet the community of Newtown was shocked at the news of his involvement since they not know him. Who is he fooling? the Probation Officer and the Judge I suppose.