Woman weeps after plot to murder brother over house lands her in prison

A St Catherine woman who trumped up $60,000 to get her brother killed in a dispute over a three-bedroom family house broke down in tears after she was sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

The 45-year-old furniture maker, Alicia Rose of Ewarton, sought assistance from two persons, including her tenant, to get her brother killed and had deposited $20,000 on the contract.

She was found guilty of conspiracy to murder following a trial in the Home Circuit Court in May.

On Wednesday while Justice Dale Palmer was handing down the sentence, the stout-built convict, who was dressed in a grey blouse and blue jean pants, sat down in the dock and gripped the railing tightly as she bowed her head and wept.

Rose’s ex-tenant testified, during the trial, that in December 2013, she rented a bar owned by the furniture maker on premises at Olympic Way in Kingston, where a three-bedroom house was also located.

The following month Rose approached the tenant and told her that she wanted her to get rid of her brother and that the previous tenant had promised to do it but never did.

The tenant was told that if she could not get the killing done, she would be asked to leave.

Rose, the court heard, sent numerous texts to the tenant telling her that time was running out and urged her to get the job done.

According to the tenant, Rose did not collect her rent for January as she felt that she could not carry out the hit and therefore could not stay at the premises.

The tenant, however, told one of her customers about the plot in February and told him where to find Rose. Rose subsequently gave the tenant $20,000 to pay the customer, who never came for the money.

The money was returned to Rose who became angry and gave the tenant notice the following day.

Both the tenant and customer later reported the matter to the police.

The brother told the court that when he went to live at the house in 2005, Rose was not living there but had a bar there.

He said in 2014, his sister attacked him with a cutlass after she removed his furniture from off the verandah and locked the grille. The police were summoned and were told by both his mother and Rose that they wanted to throw him off the property.

IN DEEP SHOCK

In March, the brother later found out about the plot to have him killed and that Rose had secretly moved out of the house two weeks before.

According to the brother, the news left him in deep shock.

Having heard the dreadful news, the brother said he bought a flask of rum, Magnum and a bag of weed and that while drinking, smoking and looking at the whole situation, saw his life flashing before his eyes.

The brother said he also saw his sister’s life, and three other people’s lives but that he prayed for Rose. He too later reported the matter to the police.

Meanwhile, before the sentence was passed, attorney-at-law Ester Reid, in her plea-in-mitigation, begged the judge to give Rose a non-custodial sentence, noting that she was the “perfect candidate”.

Reid told the judge that her client had no previous offences and that this was her first brush with the law.

She also mentioned that Rose, who was the last of six children, had a troubled life and that her problems, unfortunately, stemmed from her tumultuous relationship with her siblings.

Pointing to the community report, Reid asked the judge to bear in mind that residents described Rose as very private, hardworking and quiet and had nothing negative to say, only that she be given lenience.

Prosecutor Dwaye Green, however, urged the judge to consider the principle of deterrence and send a message to society that the court takes these offences seriously.

“Had it not been for the person who she conspired with coming to another agreement, the complainant by all means would have been a dead man,” Green said.

“Persons must be aware that when you enter into a plan to kill somebody, a serious offence, that the court will frown upon it and the court will impose sentences that are just in the circumstances.”

Justice Palmer, in handing down the sentence, said he could not offer Rose a non-custodial sentence as the imprisonment is preserved for the most serious offence and that the threshold in this case has been passed.

Noting that the maximum is 10 years, the judge started at five and added four years for aggravating factors such as the conspiracy, the victim being a family member and the fact that the matter went to trial. However, two years were deducted for the mitigating factors, Rose’s previous good record and community report and a further six months for time spent in custody.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com