The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - Hit-and-run killer Glinton Louis has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter.

Louis, 32, was convicted in March of manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of 23-year-old Markenson Justin.

At the Supreme Court sentence hearing on Friday, Brian Hanna suggested a two to five year custodial sentence for his client, but the prosecution submitted that a 15-year custodial sentence was appropriate.

Although Louis had expressed remorse for killing Justin, Justice Hartman Longley sided with the prosecution and imposed a 15-year sentence.

On July 12, 2011, Louis and his girlfriend Coletor Johnson were driving on Explorer's Way when Markenson Justin confronted them.

Johnson is the former girlfriend and the mother of Justin's daughter. According to evidence at the trial, Justin ran toward the couple's car and started hitting Johnson through the front passenger window.

Louis drove off, turned the car around, and proceeded in the direction of Justin. Louis crossed from the legal lane over to the next lane and struck the victim.

At the sentence hearing, Prosecutor Olivia Blatch called Probation officer Andy Laing. Laing presented a probation report on Louis to the court.

Laing interviewed Louis on March 9. He said the convict was remorseful and had become tearful at one point. Louis had expressed the desire of apologising to the victim's family, he said.

According to the report, Louis was described as an excellent father to his 10-year-old son and relatives felt that his actions on the date in question were inconsistent with his character.

However, the victim's relatives felt that Louis' action was premeditated, and that he should be given the maximum custodial sentence.

Prosecutor Blatch presented several aggravating factors during her submission to the court.

She noted that the victim was 23 at the time of his death.

The prosecutor also pointed out that Louis, instead of driving away, turned his vehicle around and struck Justin; he did not stop or try to assist the victim.

Prosecutor Blatch also noted that Louis was arrested for possession of dangerous drugs in 2006.

Hanna said that his client was remorseful and had indicated that his action was accidental. He also noted that his client had spent nine months in prison.

Marta Timee, the victim's mother, felt that Louis should have got more than 15 years. She said that he did not have to kill her son.