Graham J
NOTE OF SENTENCE
Graham J.
Case Details: R v. Sven Connor
Ind. 50/98
Filing Reference: Manslaughter
Court & date: Grand Court – 1.6.99
Circumstances of Offences:
The accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter (the indictment alleging murder of a drug dealer)
He and an associate went to meet the drug dealer, intending to rob him of his cache of drugs instead of paying the agreed amount. He told the police that he might have been double-crossed by the drug dealer. He went out armed with a loaded pistol in order to carry out the robbery.
A struggle took place in which the defendant alleged he was under an attack with a weapon by the drug dealer. He admitted discharging the pistol on 2 occasions to “frighten” the deceased. The third shot struck him in the chest killing him. His associate (Kirk Reid) denied that the deceased was armed or attacked the accused. The plea of guilty to manslaughter was on the basis of gross recklessness but the Court approached the matter on the basis that its gravity was exacerbated by the combination of drugs and guns.
Circumstances of accused:
Aged 18, Caymanian. Previous convictions for wounding, burglary and possession of unlicensed firearm. Was capable of honest work when available to him.
Disposition:
15 years imprisonment. The Court indicated that the sentence contained a strong deterrent element in view of the prevalence of offences involving guns and the drugs conviction.