Clebert Reece, called “Chi-Chi”, one of two who pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the February 2008 massacre was on Friday sentenced to 35 years imprisonment.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Roxane George after a probation report was presented in the High Court.

The seemingly remorseful Recce began crying silently into a white rag as the probation report was read in the High Court and cried even more when his sentenced was handed down by Justice George.

Before he was sentenced, he was given the opportunity to address the court and he did by saying, “I am sorry for the loss of lives of the people’s loved ones.”

Justice George told the court that Reece appears to have been led astray by others. From a productive life, God-fearing and loving person, he was transformed into someone uncaring with no regard for human lives.

The judge told the court that there is no evidence to prove that the accused pulled the trigger, but he drove the boat to facilitate the movement of members of the gang as part of the joint enterprise to Bartica.

Justice George said time was deducted based on the fact that the accused did not waste the court’s time, was not known to be involved in illegal activities before he was lured into the gang and that he genuinely expressed remorse for those who lost their lives.

She started the sentence at a base of 65 years, but deducted eight years for the time he was incarcerated, 10 years for not wasting judicial time and 12 years for the remorse and mitigating circumstances.

Reece will serve 30 years in jail before he is eligible for parole.

He is one of two men who pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the deaths of the 12 persons, who perished in the Bartica Massacre which happened on February 17, 2008.

The other accused, Michael Caesar, called “Mikey,” also pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and he is yet to be sentenced.

NO TIME-WASTING

His lawyer, Madan Kissoon, told the court in his submission before Justice Roxane George that based on his penal record Reece, spent eight years in jail and did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

He asked that the court take certain things into consideration. Reece is the father of two and if he can re-live his life, he would have stayed in the interior and he has shown remorse for the senseless loss of lives.

Kissoon also asked for leniency and for his client’s sentence to run concurrently.

Senior Probation and Social Services Officer Debra Joseph read in the High Court the report she had prepared before the sentencing. She stated that Reece, 39, has a sound secondary education and could articulate things for himself.

He entered the workforce at age 14 as a gold miner and would return to Berbice, his hometown, to visit his siblings and other relatives at holidays.

Reece used to assist his mother, who had a shop in the Cuyuni area and when she passed away, he returned to the city and resided in Cooper Street, Albouystown.

Joseph told the court that during an interview with residents of the community, they stated that Reece is known to be a hard worker, who had a calm attitude and is family-oriented.

His family members described him as a God-fearing man, who was not confrontational but was loving, caring and a very fond individual.

According to Joseph, an elderly resident stated that Reece’s life suddenly took a twist when one of his cousins allegedly became a member of a gang that consisted of nine men with shady characters.

That resident, said she watched Reece, a father of two, gradually transform into a savage, ruthless and merciless individual, who allowed his companions to manipulate him into joining them.

Joseph said that after Reece’s cousin gave notorious bandit Rondell “Fineman” Rollins his cellphone number, his life became a living hell. He was threatened on many occasions that if he did not join the gang, he, his family and his children would be wiped out.

As time went by, Joseph stated that Reece was recruited as the person to transport the gang members to various destinations, including Bartica.

Joseph told the court on Friday that during an interview with Reece, he told her that he witnessed the death of five persons, but listened to the sound of gunshots as they rang out and subsequently learnt through a conversation that some of the gang members stated that they had killed seven persons in execution-style in the Bartica Police Station.

He told Joseph that numerous times he wanted to run away from the gang but it was difficult to do so.