By Anastasha Elliott
It is a shame that not one of the five men, convicted for the murder of a 16-year-old boy, were sentenced to life, said Alton Liburd, chief prison officer for Nevis.
“Thirty, 25 or 20 years in prison can be done and you are free,” Liburd said. “Life in prison means you are in jail until you are dead.”
He noted the men were very fortunate.
The five murderers now join 211 prisoners in the Federation’s prison, of which 34 are at the Russell’s Nest Prison Farm in Nevis.
The five murderers — Marieus Webbe, Kishmoy Challenger, Jermaine Freeman, Ashton Williams and Ashley Freeman — were charged, tried and convicted for Weekes’ murder.
They had been waiting to know their fate since their conviction on April 4.
On Tuesday, Justice Ianthia Octave sentenced Webbe to 30 years in prison, Challenger to 25 years, Jermaine Freeman to 25 years, Ashley Freeman and Williams to 20 years.
The convicted men will serve their time at Her Majesty’s Prison in Basseterre.
Attorney Hesketh Benjamin represented Webbe, while attorney Vernon Viera represented the other men.
Viera has indicated that he would file appeals on behalf of his clients.
It took two trials, for the men to be convicted of murder. In the first trial the jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict.
Weekes was murdered on March 5, 2004 in the vicinity of Superfoods where he received a single stab wound in the back. He was at the time being chased by Webbe and the other murderers.
Director of Public Prosecution Dennis Merchant called 19 witnesses during the trial.
Witnesses said the incident started out as a verbal confrontation, and ended with the five men pouncing on the unarmed 16-year-old Weekes.
Witnesses testified that five men simply would not let up as they punched, kicked, and eventually stabbed the young boy to death.
