Geddes sister gets 20 years for murder

Forty-year-old Nadeen Geddes was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of her 36-year-old sister Tamara Geddes on Tuesday.

Tamara was shot and killed inside her home at Reserve district in Trelawny on June 19, 2020. Her 10-year-old daughter witnessed the killing.

Nadeen Geddes, who had pleaded guilty to murder on February 8, also confessed her guilt to conspiracy to murder and was also sentenced to five years at hard labour.

The sentences are to run concurrently and she is to serve 15 years before being eligible for parole.

Nadeen’s lawyer, C. J. Mitchell, asked Justice Martin Gayle to examine all the circumstances of the case before handing down the sentence. He recommended a reduced custodial term.

“The truth is that she conspired with others to kill her own sister. This was after frequent turbulence between the sisters,” said Mitchell.

It should not have happened. Your honour, looking at her, she does not appear to be capable of such an act.”

However, the judge said that Nadine’s social enquiry report was not favourable.

But he said that he cut the sentence, which could range between 20 and 25 years, by four years and four months because of time spent.

“The incident happened before a child. The only positive thing is that you pleaded guilty,” Justice Gayle said.

Earlier, Nadeen’s two daughters, Shanice Ruddock and a minor, who had pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, were given suspended sentences for three years.

The minor, who was represented by attorney Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, is to reside with her father.