Keep woman killer behind bars

Superintendent of Prisons Selwyn Matthews does not believe that woman killer Leroy Andrews is ready to be released into society after serving 13 years in prison. Nine of those years were spent in an adult prison, and the rest at the Youth Training Centre where he was sent at the time of conviction because of his age — 16. Andrews’ sentence is now up for review and the matter is being heard before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court. He is being represented by attorney Mark Seepersad and Gerald Ramdeen, while Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) appears for the State. Matthews, who is head of the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) at Golden Grove, where Andrews has been transferred, compiled a report on the prisoner based on reports of other officers.

In his testimony yesterday, Matthews concluded that as an experienced prison officer with some 34 years service behind him, he was not satisfied with Andrews behaviour, as he did not take part in certain programmes and kept to himself. Matthews told the review tribunal that he would like to see Andrews get involved in prison programmes such as anger management, managing manhood, spiritual programmes and others. He recalled that Andrews was studying CXC subjects and, from the report, was doing well. However, on one occasion when he was chastised for not wearing his shirt in his pants, there was an altercation between himself and the officer in charge, Rohan Beddoe, after which Andrews ceased to attend classes. Matthews said Andrews takes no part in any of the programmes which the prison authority believes will help him adjust to society when released.

He said most prisoners at the MSP would have jumped at the opportunity to attend programmes because they are locked up for several hours per day, but not Andrews. Such behaviour raises questions about Andrews’ suitability for release, Matthews told the court. Matthews said the review report on Andrews, as with other inmates, are compiled by him and consist of reports from various sections or supervisors. The report is compiled to help determine suitability of an inmate for release or further incarceration. Andrews was found guilty of murdering Marion Narinesingh, a UWI professor’s wife, on June 29, 1993. Andrews, who was then 16 and is now 28, was sentenced at the State’s Pleasure by Justice Lennox Deyalsingh. The review of sentencing became an issue after the Privy Council ruled that convicted persons under age 18 ought not to be sentenced at the President’s Pleasure as was the custom, but at the Court’s Pleasure which would be in keeping with the doctrine of separation of powers. Hearing in the matter will continue on January 5, 2006.