The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON


Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to 13 years at Her Majesty’s Prison by a judge for a manslaughter that reportedly occurred over a stolen cocaine pipe.

Andrew Rolle, a 40-year-old scrap metal collector, returned to Supreme Court yesterday before Justice Bernard Turner to be sentenced for the April 9, 2010, stabbing of 37-year-old Dennison Brice.

Rolle claimed that he, while intoxicated, accidentally killed Brice who had stolen his cocaine pipe.

Justice Turner yesterday told the convict that the court had “considered an appropriate sentence would reflect society’s disapproval of the kind of behavior that led to the death.”

However, he also said: “I hope, Mr rolle, that the time you will spend at Her Majesty’s Prison will be used productively to fill in the years you missed out on getting a formal education.”

“I will sentence you to a period of 13 years imprisonment at Her Majesty’s Prison to commence from the date of the commencement of this trial, August 15.”

Rolle had originally been charged with murder. It was claimed he stabbed Brice in the chest while the two men were on an unnamed road off Fire Trail Road.

Rolle, who said he had been drinking and smoking drugs that day, claimed around the time of the incident, he accused the deceased of stealing his cocaine pipe.

On Monday, before the jury could hear the evidence of prosecution witnesses, Rolle, on the advice of his attorney Christina Galanos, changed his plea, saying he was guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The lawyer explained that there was evidence of provocation and said it should be taken into account that Rolle’s mental capacity was impaired by alcohol and smoking.

Prosecutor Neil Brathwaite accepted the plea on the reduced charge.

Yesterday, Ms Galanos addressed Justice Turner first and make a mitigation plea on behalf of her client before the judge hands down his sentence.

Ms Galanos told the judge that the night in question was an unfortunate one, as her client’s attempt to “scare” the deceased who had stolen from him, “turned deadly as Mr Rolle, who was intoxicated at the time, didn’t realize that instead of jabbing the deceased with the back part of the knife as he intended, he jabbed the deceased with the front part or the blade of the knife.”

She told the judge that her client’s employment at “G & G Scrap metal as a collector” for five years up to the time of the incident was an indication that “he is willing and able to support himself by means of an honest living and he is capable of keeping a job.”

“Presently, Mr Rolle has a son by the name of Anthony Rolle who is sex years old. He is not married” the attorney added.

Ms Galanos told the judge that her clients lack of formal education was a result of him having to raising himself, even while having a grandmother to look after him and five other grand children.

“At the age of 10, he found a job in the construction industry in order to support himself and other members of his household. Consequently, he never learned how to read or write or how to add and subtract.”

Rolle did not attend schools due to his family’s financial situation and he was required to help his grandmother in sustaining and caring for his other relatives.

His only previous conviction occurred in the 1990’s for breaking and entering which he spend a month behinds bars for.

The attorney asked the judge to consider six points when determining the punishment of her client.

“He immediately confessed to causing the death of Dennison Brice upon his arrest stating that at that point he thought he was using the back part of the knife. He co-operated with the police by leading them to the weapon.”

Ms Galanos continued that “he once again confessed to causing the death of Dennison Brice during his record of interview and in his statement.”

“There is evidence on file from Mr Rolle and all of the other eye witnesses that the deceased provoked Mr Rolle.”

Her client had accepted “full responsibility” for his actions and “I would ask that the court also take into consideration the fact that Mr Rolle has been on remand since his arrest in April 2010 awaiting trial.”

She asked the court to “let mercy prevail” and considering the circumstances of the case, contended that it was a “far cry from the worst instance of the offense or even anything near the worst instance of the offense.”

The judge took the physicians report concern the convict, the submission by the attorney and the circumstances of the case into consideration.

Justice Turner sentenced the man to 13 years at Her Majesty’s Prison dating back to August 15, the start of trial.

Ms Galanos spoke with The Tribune afterwards though she declined to comment on whether the sentence was reasonable.

“As far as the sentence is concerned, I would decline to comment as I need to seek further instructions from Mr Rolle in that regard” she answered.

She did however, commend her client for doing what he did on Monday, making the decision to plead guilty to manslaughter.

“It takes great intestinal fortitude for the simple reason that in this country, the offense of manslaughter can carry a sentence of up to 35 years and Mr Rolle was aware of this before he made the decision to enter his guilty plea.”

“In this regard I am very proud of him. My prayer for Mr rolle is that while serving his sentence, he will endeavor to learn how to read and write and that once he is released, with God’s help, he will make a valuable contribution to society.”