Teen killer faces sentencing review

A MAN, who at age 16 murdered the wife of a university professor and was ordered to be detained at the President’s Pleasure, will have a chance at serving a special term in prison. Leroy Andrews was ordered to be detained at the President’s Pleasure in 1993 because he was under 18 years old when he committed the murder. However, that order was deemed unlawful earlier this year as he should have been ordered to be detained at the Court’s Pleasure. Andrews’ re-sentencing hearing came up before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain Sixth Criminal Court yesterday. Andrews was represented by Mark Seepersad and Gerald Ramdeen, while State attorney Angelica Teelucksingh appeared for the DPP’s department. Hearing was adjourned to Tuesday for the Commissioner of Prisons and/or the Superintendent of Prisons to appear to give a progress report on the prisoner. The judge warned that failure to respond to the summons could lead to warrants being issued for the arrest of prison officials.

Andrews, now 29, was arrested on June 5, 1991 for the murder of Marion Narinesingh in Lopinot. He was found guilty before Justice Lennox Deyalsingh in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court on June 29, 1993 and ordered to be detained at the President’s Pleasure. Andrews was detained at the Youth Training Centre until he reached 21. Thereafter, he was taken to the Carrera Island Prison where he spent one year. He was then transferred to the Maximum Security Prison at Arouca where he is now incarcerated. Andrews, in an affidavit, said when he was arrested in 1991, he never got the opportunity to finish his schooling to the point of CXC level. However, while in prison, he completed several academic courses — Maths, Social Studies, Principles of Accounts, and English. He said prior to his incarceration he lived with his mother, younger brother and sister. Yesterday, both his mother and father were in court. Andrews contends that during his 13 years behind bars, he never had any disciplinary problems.

He said there was one incident where he was slapped in the face by an officer for having his shirt out of his pants, but this matter was resolved before the Superintendent of Prisons. Andrews is anxious to have his sentence reviewed by the court. Before his original sentence was quashed, Andrews learnt that other prisoners, similarly circumstanced, were subjected to reviews. Andrews said he was not examined or interviewed by a psychologist, psychiatrist or any other health care professional so that the progress of his rehabilitation, maturity and welfare could be monitored in order that it can be determined whether and when he might be released, or even considered suitable for release so that he can return to the free population and his community.

“The possibility of me remaining incarcerated and eventually dying in prison for a crime I committed when I was at the tender age of 16 fills me with dread and fear,” Andrews added. Andrews continued, “I have expressed remorse and regret for the fact that my actions resulted in the loss of life of another human being. These expressions have been and remain sincere. I am now 29 years of age and I have come to understand the ramifications of my actions and the consequences which have flowed from them. I still wish to be able to pursue the life goals that I had prior to my incarceration and to return to my family home where I have been guaranteed a place.” It is expected that Andrews will be called to the witness box during this re-sentencing hearing.