‘Model’ prisoner still looking to GG for decision on release

After spending more than 19 years in prison, and two years of efforts to secure his release, Michael Anthony Lawrence still sits in limbo, awaiting an order from the office of the governor general.

His sister, Hayley Rowe-Baxter, told The Gleaner that, despite efforts to have the governor general act on his appeal, as well as repeated assurances from prison authorities that her brother would be recommended for release, he is still behind bars.

“Since 2020, every avenue has been taken to secure his release, but still no response,” she said.

Saying that she needs answers, Rowe-Baxter indicated that she would be content if the governor general’s office would say if her brother has two, five or more years still to serve.

“They are dragging their feet and not providing any information, despite all my efforts to get answers,” she said.

Rowe-Baxter told The Gleaner that her attorney, Melrose Reid, last week again wrote to the governor general’s office seeking answers, but so far has had no response.

No progress

Rowe-Baxter said that, after The Gleaner published a story earlier this year on her efforts to have her brother released, there was some movement.

“He was provided with medical care and asked to fill out some forms and questioned where he would live if and when released. All this was done and a visit was made to his sister’s home where he would live. But, since that initial movement, nothing more has been done,” she complained.

Rowe-Baxter further said that she spoke with a number of officials within the Department of Correctional Services, who gave assurances that they would try to have him released because he was a model prisoner and did not pose a threat to society.

She said that, despite such assurances, it appears that nothing has been done to have her brother released from prison.

Rowe-Baxter said she will keep trying to get her brother out of prison because he does not belong there after all this time.

Angellique Virtue, press officer in the governor general’s office, told The Gleaner when contacted earlier this year that all attorneys practising in Jamaica know the procedure to be followed when appeals are being made.

At the time, she refused to comment specifically on Lawrence’s case and queried whether he was represented by an attorney, suggesting that his lawyer would likely know what procedures to pursue.

Efforts by The Gleaner to reach Virtue to determine if she was now in a position to comment were unsuccessful.

Reid, said she did not want to speak with the media as she did not want to prejudice her client’s chances or face possible disciplinary action from the Bar Association.

Convicted in a murder case

In 1979, at the age of 14, Lawrence was convicted in a murder case along with three others. Because of his age, Rowe-Baxter said he was detained at the governor general’s pleasure.

Lawrence escaped from prison after spending five years behind bars. He left for Cuba where he spent a number of years before returning to the island in 2008.

In 2021, The Gleaner reported that, while he was on the run, he changed his name to Paul James and travelled from Jamaica to Cuba several times. While in Cuba, he mastered the art of painting. On his return to Jamaica, he got a job in Kingston but was arrested at his workplace in 2008 and charged with escaping custody. He was found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison.

Lawrence later brought an application before the Court of Appeal contending that his detention was unconstitutional because it should not have been indeterminate.

However, the appeal court said it did not have standing and that the matter had to go though the Office of the Governor General.

“This is a 64-year-old man who is not a threat to society and who has spent more than 19 years behind bars, having been convicted at age 14 to await the governor general’s pleasure, but remains behind bars despite my efforts over the past two years,” said Rowe-Baxter.