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Travis Williams Photo credit Iwitness news
A man, who was on Monday, at the High Court Criminal Assizes, sentenced to 18 years in prison for manslaughter, stemming from the death of an elderly businessman about 8 years ago, is expected to appeal the sentence.
Travis Williams was originally charged with the murder of 72-year-old shop and bar proprietor Grafton Hutchinson of Stubbs, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter during a Case Management Conference on September 20, 2019.
Williams was 22 at the time of the incident, and was residing at Calder.
Speaking to the Vincetian on Wednesday, Williams’ lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste said that her client is expected to appeal his sentence on two main grounds. She is of view that Justice Brian Cottle did not represent the facts clearly, in that he did not refer to the evidence which was before the Court, that the accused had expressed remorse even before he was arrested, and the lawyer stressed that this evidence came from a prosecution witness.
Bacchus-Baptiste is also of the view that her client should have been given the full one-third discount, or most of it, for his guilty plea because it was his first available opportunity to plea to manslaughter, as he had been initially charged with murder.
Hutchinson’s nude body was discovered face down on the floor of his shop and bar at Stubbs June 20, 2011.
An autopsy revealed multiple trauma to his head and neck.
Evidence had revealed that during the incident, Williams relieved the businessman of his 12-guage shotgun, as well as a quantity of rum and cigarettes.
In August 2013, someone came forward and told the police that Williams had confessed to the crime.
In sentencing, Justice Brian Cottle used 15 years as the benchmark, but after weighing the aggravating and mitigating factors, and taking into account the 6 years, two months and 11 days Williams spent on remand, he will only have to serve 8 years, nine months and 19 days in prison from Monday.
Williams had previous convictions for wounding and burglary.
Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.(TheVincentian)