7 years for killing old man during robbery

Jason Antoine, of Chin Chin Road, Cunupia, stood motionless as Justice Herbert Volney, presiding in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court, imposed the custodial sentence on him. His motionless stance could have been as a result of an alleged beating he received last Thursday in the holding bay of the Hall of Justice, according to a complaint by his attorney Sean Cazabon.

Cazabon told the court that Antoine suffered injuries to his ribs and lost a tooth as a result of the beating by the police. Newsday investigations revealed that Antoine spat on a policeman and threatened to throw faeces on other officers. While being subdued by the police officers, Antoine was injured.

Antoine was charged with the murder of Moses Bullock on November 29, 1999 at Chin Chin Road, Cunupia. State attorneys Nalini Singh and Shoba Jamunar prosecuted.

The court heard that on November 29, 1999, Antoine and two others went to rob Moses and Basdaye Bullock at their home. Antoine remained outside as the guard while the other two went inside to rob.

Both Moses and Basdaye Bullock were tied up and placed on the floor. While the robbery was in progress, the police turned up and Antoine started to run, but he was caught. He told the police, "boss, I was the watchman."

Antoine directed the police to the house where his confederates were hiding under a bed. Police caught the other two men under the bed and found the elderly couple tied up. Moses Bullock had a piece of rope around his neck. He was dead.

The three men were charged with murder. Yesterday, Antoine pleaded guilty to manslaughter. In a plea of mitigation, Cazabon said Antoine entered an agreement with two others to rob the couple. There was no plan, he added, to use any weapons.

JUDGE: He didn’t know they were going to rob an old couple?

CAZABON: There were no weapons, no guns.

Cazabon said Antoine had been in custody since his arrest in November 1999. When held, he confessed and gave a full confession. Counsel said by the plea of guilty, his client had shown remorse and contrition. He said Antoine made a wrong decision to follow the other two persons to commit a robbery.

Cazabon then complained to the court of the beating his client received from the police at the Hall of Justice. He asked that the matter be investigated.

JUDGE: This is not the first time I heard that persons have been beaten downstairs the Supreme Court of Justice. This is not the first time I have heard that a prisoner was beaten by police officers in this building. I am asking State Counsel to bring this to the attention of the Commissioner of Police so that the allegation can be investigated.

In passing sentence, Justice Volney pointed out that Antoine went to rob old people. "You are very fortunate that the State accepted your plea, because you might have been convicted of murder. I have to sentence you on the basis of your plea. I accept that you are contrite, that ever since you were caught, you accepted you were a participant to an unlawful joint enterprise. But I must punish you. You must know when you set out, that what you were doing was wrong.

Young men seeking to rob old people. I find that particularly aggravating. You didn’t seek to rob young people like yourself, otherwise you might have been met with a volley of gun fire. You chose your victims. I want to deter you from doing that again. I must deter others because robberies might result in the death of the victims."

Volney then sentenced Antoine to seven years in jail to start yesterday. Antoine, writhing in pain, moved off very slowly to start his prison term.