Slow death for my brother’s killer

A PREGNANT pre-school teacher wept yesterday when a San Fernando magistrate sentenced her to three years imprisonment on three counts of fraud. Denise Sheppard, 37, who is also a car dealer, appeared before acting deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington. 

In passing sentence, Magistrate Wellington said although he considered defence attorney Mewalal Chatoor’s plea for leniency, the fact that Sheppard was a teacher made the case against her even worse since she should be “an example to young children.” The charges were laid by acting Cpl Ken Ghisyawan of San Fernando Fraud Squad and Cpl Khadarnath of Port-of-Spain Fraud Squad.

Sheppard, who has been in custody since last October, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, she changed her plea when she reappeared in court earlier this week and court prosecutor Cpl Wendell Fernando recommended summary trial. The court heard that  Sheppard conducted business on behalf of Cars ‘R’ Us, of Thurton Street, Les Efforts East, San Fernando. On July 2,  2002, Christopher La Patiste made a down-payment of $5,000 to Sheppard for a $55,000 B15 Super Saloon.

Sheppard accepted the money without delivering the car. A report was made to the police and Cpl Khadarnath began investigations. When she was questioned on August 12, 2002, Sheppard admitted her guilt and Cpl Khardarnath laid the charge. She appeared in court and was subsequently granted bail.

The other charge was that on August 11 last year, Godfrey Cummings of New Grant, Princes Town, made a down-payment of $9,000 to Sheppard for an imported B15 Nissan car. The  vehicle was not delivered by the arranged time and a report was made to the police. Ag Cpl Ghisyawan conducted investigations and arrested the defendant on October 6. The third charge was that between February 20 and April 4, 2003, David Riley of Blitz Village, Pleasantville, made a down-payment of $12,800 for a B15 Nissan car valued at $55,000.

The payment was made via a manager’s cheque at the High Street San Fernando branch of RBTT. It was agreed the car would be delivered at the end of April. In court yesterday, Chatoor pleaded for a  fine to be imposed on his client who he said was seven months pregnant and “had resources to make amends to those who lost.” He said Sheppard was    “repentant, sorry and remorseful” for her acts. He also pointed out the defendant was a pre-school teacher but Magistrate Wellington responded: “That makes it even worse.”