Rapist sentenced to 12 years in prison

On Friday he was found guilty of Rape, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Assault, and Threat of Death … and tonight justice was meted out to Kent Francis. Before he learned his fate, Francis spoke from the dock saying (quote) “I apologise if I have done any harm or anything to anybody. I am a family man – I have my children and my wife. I don’t think I got the benefit of the doubt out of that case.” (end quote) His wife, Sharon Francis, also made a mitigation plea on his behalf, asking the court to spare her husband. Justice Troadio Gonzalez then sentenced Francis to ten years for rape, twelve years for the aggravated burglary, and a year each for aggravated assault and threat of death. The sentences are to run concurrently which means a maximum jail term of twelve years. The charges against Francis stem from an incident on January tenth, 2006, in which a thirty-nine year old woman he knew reported that he forced his way into her room, raped her at gunpoint, and threatened to kill her. Francis was represented by attorney Dean Lindo while Audrey Matura presented the case for the crown.

A woman charged with causing death by careless conduct also appeared before Justice Gonzalez for sentencing. After hearing a mitigation plea from Ambassador Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, twenty-seven year old Fiona Gillett was fined three thousand dollars. The money is to be paid by January 2007 or in default a year in jail. On September thirtieth 2005, Gillett was driving her car along Amara Avenue when she failed to obey a stop sign at the corner at Dean Street. As a result, she collided into a truck causing it to spin and hit S.E.L. worker Samuel Yarde, who was cleaning a nearby drain. Yarde later died of internal injuries and Gillett was charged with Manslaughter by Negligence. The manslaughter was reduced to Careless Conduct on November first when Gillett agreed to plead guilty. Prosecutor in the case was Kamar Henry, while Kareem Musa acted on Gillett’s behalf.