Death-row inmate wants reduced sentence

He’s spent the past decade on death-row but this week lawyers representing convicted killer Adolph Harris are asking the court to reduce his sentence. Harris is claiming that his constitutional rights have been violated by the delay of execution. This morning, the inmate appeared in Belize City’s Supreme Court flanked by human rights attorneys Antoinette Moore and Edward Fitzgerald of the United Kingdom to argue his case before Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh. Fitzgerald submitted that it would be inhumane for the court to give Harris a life sentence or any sentence of more than forty years behind bars. The attorney claims that the last eleven and a half years have been stressful on his client. Attorney Andrea McSweeny, representing the Attorney General’s Office, told the court, that while they do not oppose the fact that Harris’ constitutional rights have been violated, the appropriate sentence should now be life imprisonment. According to McSweeny, they are aware of the need for a review of the system and the Belize Advisory Council is currently compiling a list of all prisoners on death row. The C.J. chastised the Council, contending that the members have “not shown any speed or action in this case.” C.J. Conteh has reserved judgement in the case. Adolph Harris was convicted of the August 1993 murder of Lavern Orosco. According to court reports, Harris and his girlfriend, Lolita Lynch were leaving a dance on Regent Street West when Lynch and Orosco became embroiled in an argument. Witnesses testified that at Lynch’s bidding Harris shot Orosco, killing her on the spot.