On Wednesday 6th July, 2022, Chester Seraphine of Good Hope, represented by defense counsel Peter Alleyne, appeared for sentencing before Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts, after pleading guilty to the offence of murder. According to reports at the time by Police PRO Inspector Pellham Jno Baptiste, the offence occurred on 10th March, 2018 at approximately 1:00 am at Good Hope.
The victim, Englebert Laurent and Seraphine were out drinking when a disagreement ensued. Seraphine repeatedly struck Laurent with a stick to his head, resulting in injuries to which he later succumbed.
Upon consideration of the sentencing guidelines, Justice Roberts noted that the appropriate starting point for an adult offender would be 25 years, within a range of 15-35 years.
The court considered both the aggravating and mitigating factors prior to granting the sentence. In light of the aggravating factors, Justice Roberts held that the offender committed the offence in the view of the public and the victim suffered dismemberment to his face.
Furthermore, the court considered the mitigating factors that the offender offered assistance to the authorities, he was provoked and that the victim was the aggressor. Given that Seraphine had shown genuine remorse and had already served time on remand at the Dominica State Prison since 12th March, 2018, the court concluded that the mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating factors.
Consequently, Seraphine was sentenced to 10 years, 8 months and six days imprisonment.
The state was represented by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Sherma Darymple, assisted by State attorneys Dainah Mathew and Marie Louise Pierre-Louis.
