DPP defends decision to accept woman's manslaughter plea in brother's death

Livern Barrett, Senior Gleaner Writer

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn has defended her decision to accept a plea of guilty to manslaughter from Denisha Gregory, the Manchester woman charged in the 2011 killing of her eleven-year-old brother.

In 2014, Gregory was sentenced to four years in prison for her role in the killing of her brother, Tareek Gregory, in Harmons district, Manchester.

She has already completed her sentence, which has triggered an outcry from members of the public who believe it was too light.

However, in explaining the decision to accept the plea of guilty to manslaughter, Llewellyn said the 25-year-old woman gave a caution statement minimising her role in the killing.

READ: Outcry over light sentence 

She said in the caution statement, Gregory admitting only to placing her hand over her brother’s mouth to stop him from screaming.  

Llewellyn said Gregory told investigators that she loved her brother and tried to discourage her boyfriend, Kayode Garwood, from killing him.

However, she said Ms Gregory became afraid that Garwood would direct his murderous rage at her.

She explained that as a matter of law, where there is credible medical evidence showing that at the time of the murder, the accused person was not in a “psychiatrically sound” state of mind, there is clear legal authority that would allow prosecutors to accept a plea of not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Llewellyn revealed, too, that two psychiatrists gave evidence during Gregory’s sentencing indicating that at the time of the incident she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

On Monday, Garwood was convicted of murder and is to be sentenced today.