CONFESSED killer Roy Lewis was sentenced to twenty-six years in jail on Tuesday after Justice Franklyn Holder observed that the barbaric act committed on his foster nephew Devon Lewis was premediated.Justice Holder also noted that the convict had hounded the 18-year-old in-law since he was a child and fatally stabbed him after his sexual advances were rejected, snuffing out the life of a human being who was still in the prime of his life.

“The sentence that I give you will serve as a deterrent to others …and while in custody you must reflect on what you did. I have considered the probation report, the statement of you and your lawyer. The starting point is twenty-five years. However, there were a number of aggravating factors.

“You premediated to kill. The post-mortem report revealed there were nine wounds, of which four were stab wounds. You went to an extent to achieve your goals. You intruded the home and attacked; You violated the privacy of others; You violated trust. For these aggravating factors I added twelve years.”
On hearing the additional period of incarceration, the prisoner bawled: “Have mercy! Have mercy!”

Further, the judge stipulated that seven years be deducted for the prisoner’s plea of guilt, a further deduction of nine months for remorse shown and a further reduction of three years, three months, representing the time spent in prison prior to the trial.

“Your sentence has been reduced by eleven years. Your sentence is twenty-six years. You are not entitled to parole until after twenty years, the judge stipulated. However, after the sentence was imposed, Lewis tearfully pleaded with the judge for a reduction, having thrown himself at the mercy of the court. But Justice Holder ordered the prison officer: “Take him away.”

Moments after the prisoner was escorted to the New Amsterdam Prison, a short distance from the Berbice Assizes, this newspaper was told that Lewis quickly calculated his prisoner years, which amounted to under eighteen years . This pleased him and his tears no longer flowed.

Earlier, standing in the dock, Lewis said: “My Honour, I am very sorry for what I did to Devon Anthony Lewis. He was my relative and we were living good prior to his demise. I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy to his parents, along with his brothers and sisters, and I ask that they forgive me for my action. I am very sorry and I throw myself at the mercy of the court.”

State-appointed Defence Attorney Sasha Roberts said her client had thrown himself at the mercy of the court. She noted that it was quite unfortunate that the young man lost his life, and the accused must be made to acknowledge that what he did was wrong.

“We may not quite understand why the incident occurred. Justice must be served for the accused and deceased,” the lawyer said.

Meanwhile, earlier in March Lewis had pleaded not guilty to the capital offence and guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, which was accepted by the State.

State Prosecutrix Natasha Backer had stated that Roy Lewis had fatally wounded Devon Lewis on December 27, 2012 as he lay asleep with his girlfriend at her home at Back Street, Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice.
At the sentencing on Tuesday Devon Lewis’s mother, Roxanne, told the Guyana Chronicle that her emotions were very high. She said, “however, I am satisfied with the sentence. My son cannot come back. But I am satisfied.”