28 years’ jail each for 5 killers

The only discount Phillip “The Boss” Boodram of Dow Village, California; Roger Mootoo of Springvale Village, Claxton Bay; Ricky Singh of Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay; Kervin Williams and Aaron “Arc Eye” Grappie, both of Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay received on their sentences was for the 11 years, four months and 16 days spent in jail awaiting trial. It was the third trial for the five after two previous trials, in 2009 and 2012, resulted in hung juries as jurors were unable to arrive at a unanimous verdict. The trial began in September 2015 and ended in March. At the first trial, three others, Vivian “Clarkie” Clarke, Steve “Boops” McGilvery and Pernell Martin, were found guilty and each sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

While agreeing he was not bound by the 30-year sentence imposed on three other men, Justice Jack said no one size fits all and the aggravating factors of the case were “sufficiently egregious and abhorrent” to negate consideration of the sentences. He also noted that the violence which preceded Rampersad’s abduction on November 25, 2005, could not be overstated.

Rampersad, 45, of Irving Street, Petit Bourg was snatched from her home on November 25, 2005. Her body was dug out of a shallow grave in a cashew field in Claxton Bay on January 5, 2006. Her back was broken and an autopsy indicated she was buried alive.

Tricia Hudlin-Cooper led a team of prosecutors for the State.

The accused were represented by Evans Welch, Wayne Sturge, Kelston Pope, Delicia Helwig-Robertson and Danielle Rampersad.