By Ketricia Finch
St. Kitts Reporter
Darnell Govia will be spending the next ten years of his life behind bars after Justice Francis Belle handed down the sentence on Monday at the Basseterre Magistrate’s Court.
Govia had appeared emotionless when the jury found him guilty of the attempted murder Mark Robertson last Friday, and Monday was no different as he merely shook his head when Justice Belle asked if he had anything to say for himself.
The jury found the defendant guilty of the most serious of three charges, the lesser two – wounding with intent and unlawful wounding – being dismissed.
According to the evidence given Govia shot Robertson three times in the back and attempted to shoot him again at close range. Robertson was the first witness and testified that after Govia shot him in the back that fateful night, he fell to the ground. After that he said Govia moved in for the kill but the gun was apparently out of bullets.
Attorney Reginald W. James filled in for Govia’s trial attorney Hesketh Benjamin, who was not present at the sentencing hearing. James attempted to paint a different picture of the twenty-one-year-old, saying that he had no previous criminal record and was the devoted father of a three-year-old.
“The prisoner is the fourth of six children of Arlene Govia and attended the Cayon High School but dropped out in fifth form. He then attended Tech Voc for six months. The prisoner has no previous records. He was raised by both parents and is the father for a 3-year-old daughter. He also attended church occasionally. The accused is a young man.
“Firstly, I would like to extend regret for the victim who is paralyzed…I would like to ask the court to extend a custodial sentence on Mr. Govia which would assist with the victim’s hardships,” the learned attorney said.
Govia’s mother, Arlene Govia also begged for leniency for Darnel who she claimed had never before got into trouble.
“This is the first time a complaint was made on him. I ask your Lordship to have mercy in whatever judgment you give,” she pleaded.
Justice Belle asked Arlene, an employee at J.N.F. Hospital if there were any men who she knew that had got shot this year, to which she replied ‘So many I can’t count.’
Arlene also said she was sorry about what had happened with Darnel and Mark, but the judge seemed unmoved as she told the weeping mother that she has to put herself in Mark and his family’s position.
“Even the personal part of his life has to be taken care by somebody else. His loved ones have to suffer because of those three shots. He can no longer walk. You would need to talk to your son…”
After the emotional speeches, Judge Belle said he don’t know what else to do but to put Darnel behind bars for a long time. Darnel was given the maximum sentence for the attempted murder charge.
“This was a very brutal attack on an unarmed individual, an individual who didn’t not do anything whatsoever,” Belle concluded. “I see you as a very dangerous criminal, unless someone talk to you and helps you turn your life around. You will serve 10 years in prison with hard labour. In fact, 10 years to me is a light sentence for you.”
