PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed the appeal in the matter of Renaldo Anderson Alleyne v The Queen and recommended that Alleyne serves at least 25 years under the six concurrent life sentences he received in 2012. This is the first time where a recommendation is being made as to the minimum length of time a prisoner serving a life sentence in Barbados should remain incarcerated before being eligible for release.
In September 2010, Alleyne, along with an accomplice, robbed the Campus Trendz Clothing Boutique in St Michael in Barbados. Alleyne threw two Molotov cocktails into the store which caused a serious fire. Six young women, who had hidden in the store during the robbery, died as a result of smoke inhalation.
Alleyne admitted his participation in the robbery and gave a self-written statement to the police. He was charged with six counts of murder but in June 2011, he pleaded guilty to six counts of manslaughter which was accepted by the director of public prosecution.
On August 15, 2012, the trial judge, Justice Elneth Kentish, sentenced Alleyne to six concurrent life sentences. The judge considered aggravating factors, like the reckless and callous manner in which the robbery was carried out; and mitigating ones, such as Alleyne’s early guilty plea and his…
