Three men, who were sentenced to serve 81 years imprisonment for the execution-style killing of 71-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris, had their sentence reduced to 50 years by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.
In 2015, Orwin Hinds, Cleon Hinds, Roy Jacobs, and Kevin October were sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court after they were found guilty by a 12-member jury of the murder of Fiedtkou-Parris, which occurred on June 30, 2011, at her Robb Street, Georgetown house.
Their attorneys filed an appeal challenging the conviction and sentence on the ground that it was excessive. However, October died last year while in prison awaiting his appeal.
The appeal was heard by Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud at the Court of Appeal. The State was represented by Prosecutor Teshana James-Lake.
Justice Cummings-Edwards, while delivering the ruling, noted that the court allowed the appeal in relation to the sentence, but not their conviction.
The court found that the previously imposed sentence was manifestly excessive. The Chancellor said that the crime was a “gruesome murder” and the men, who were hired for pay, invaded the privacy of the elderly woman’s home.
As such, to determine the appropriate sentence, the Chancellor took into consideration that the crime was premeditated, the men were hired for pay and the use of a firearm.
According to reports, on the day in question, two men entered Fiedtkou-Parris’ yard and asked to see her. When the elderly woman went to her door, a gunman riddled her with bullets before fleeing in a car with their accomplice.
The execution was part of a conspiracy for money and was reportedly linked to a property dispute.
Four men were initially charged, and, during the trial, a caution statement provided by one of the accused had outlined that there was a plot by someone to murder the elderly woman. The gunmen were allegedly paid almost $2M.
