The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday upheld the murder convictions of two men for the 2011 execution-style killing of 71-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris.
In 2015, Orwin Hinds, Cleon Hinds, Roy Jacobs, and Kevin October were sentenced to 81 years by Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court.
The men 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 later moved to the Guyana Court of Appeal challenging the convictions and sentences on the ground that it was excessive.
However, October died last year while in prison awaiting his appeal.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction but reduced the 81-year sentence to 50 years.
Orwin and Cleon moved to the CCJ to appeal their conviction and sentences.
The men’s attorney, Arud Gossai, argued that his clients’ convictions are unsafe due to errors of law made by the trial judge.
Jacobs did not file an appeal.
The case was heard by CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders, Justice Denys Barrow, Justice Jacob Wit, Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, and Justice Andrew Burgess.
The panel of five judges, on Tuesday, ruled to deny the men’s appeal against conviction.
The CCJ judges however reserved their ruling on the grounds of sentencing.
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.
The 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.
