Journalist Junior Jarvis had sufficient time to cool down, following a verbal exchange between him and former banker Randy Lawrence, the night before Jarvis shot and killed Lawrence in the vicinity of the Chill Spot Bar and Grill at Arnos Vale.
This was highlighted by Justice Brian Cottle before sentencing Jarvis to life imprisonment at the High Court Criminal Assizes on Friday, March 9.
Jarvis also received a range of other sentences for related offenses, including attempted murder and abduction. He was represented by attorney Bacchus-Baptiste who had pleaded with the Court not to impose a life sentence.
The two sides
The case for the crown was that on the night of February 13, 2017, the two men had a verbal exchange during a function at the night spot. Lawrence made several reports to the police and was taken away by a friend leaving his car in the area. Jarvis left sometime after but returned early the following morning, parked his car in the vicinity of the Arnos Vale Playing Field, lay-waited, ambushed, and shot Lawrence several times in the area of the Chill Spot Bar and Grill, while he (Lawrence) was returning for his vehicle.
Jarvis then walked to the apartment shared by Arisha Pompey and Josette Smith, forcibly entered the building, and shot at the girls. He then forced Pompey to go with him, but as they reached the Option Supermarket, at Arnos Vale, Pompey observing that there were people in the area, refused to go further, and police arrested Jarvis at the scene.
He was found in possession of a gun loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, along with another magazine with ammunition, and other loose rounds. Several spent shells were recovered on the scene. No firearm or ammunition was found on Lawrence or at his home. The Jury believed the Crown’s version of the events. They called forty-three (43) witnesses.
In his defense, Jarvis claimed that he shot and killed Lawrence in self-defense after he thought Lawrence was shooting at him. He claimed Lawrence had threatened to shoot him the night before. He denied that he shot at Pompey and Smith, claiming that the gun went off accidentally when Pompey tried to grab it twice while he was at their apartment. He also denied forcing Pompey to leave her home and go with him to the Option Supermarket.
Judge’s summation
Justice Cottle pointed out that paragraph 4 of the sentencing guidelines for murder states that if the Court considers that the seriousness of the offense (or the combination of the offense and one or more offenses associated with it) is exceptionally high. It was associated with at least three very serious offences, and there was a sufficient degree of pre-meditation. He noted that Jarvis had sufficient time to cool down.
In outlining the aggravating factors, the Judge said the killing took place on a public road, and a church was in the vicinity. He noted that it was entirely possible that other persons could have been killed, and there was evidence from Jarvis himself that other persons were present. Cottle noted there was no evidence of provocation by the victim. He contended that there were no mitigating factors of the offence or the offender. He noted that Jarvis had one previous conviction for assaulting a woman and causing her bodily harm, that he was not of good character, and could not be considered to be genuinely remorseful, that the apology he made at the sentencing hearing the previous day had no real value, as he maintained the defence he gave at the trial, which was rejected by the jury.
Justice Cottle concluded that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating one.
Jarvis could not benefit from any discount on his sentence, as the matter went through a full trial, and the five years Jarvis spent could not be deducted, as the starting point was a ‘whole life sentence’.
Not being able to go up or down, the Court imposed the ‘whole life sentence’.
However, in the absence of a parole law here, Justice Cottle said the Court should have the power to review the progress of the prisoner and ordered that Jarvis be brought back to Court after 30 years to determine whether he is sufficiently rehabilitated to be released. By that time, Jarvis, now 50, will be 80.
Jarvis was also sentenced to 21 years in prison for the attempted murder of Arisha Pompey, 21 years for the attempted murder of Josette Smith to run concurrently, 15 years for entering the home of Josette Smith, and at the time had in his possession a weapon of offence, to wit, a gun, two years and six months for abducting Pompey, 19 years and 9 months for using a firearm to aid in the commission of abduction and three years for assaulting Pompey causing her bodily harm.
Those sentences will run concurrently, with the term of life imprisonment.
Source:The Vincentian
