The Christ Church man who hid a now-convicted murderer while he was on the run was sentenced to two years in prison when he reappeared in the No. 4 Supreme Court yesterday.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
That sentence will run alongside another Kevin Jason Omar Gabriel is currently serving at Dodds Prison.
Gabriel, of Kendall Hill B, Christ Church, had admitted, at an earlier Session of the Continuous Sittings, that on July 11, 2014, knowing or believing that Scott Harewood had committed the offence of murder, he, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, provided a place of abode for Harewood with intent to impede Harewood’s apprehension or prosecution.
He was represented by attorney Kellyann Blackman, while State Counsel Maya Kellman represented the prosecution.
He had five previous convictions for possession of cocaine, having a traffickable quantity of the drug, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, breaching a bond and theft.
Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell said she considered that Gabriel knew Harewood was wanted for murder as he admitted he had been told by the man himself.
She added she considered six years to be the appropriate starting point for her sentence.
Stressing that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating one, the judge deducted one-third for his guilty plea and two years for the delay in the matter.
Gabriel spent no time on remand.
In the end, Justice Smith-Bovell sentenced Gabriel to two years in prison.
Kellman, in outlining the facts, said Gabriel was taken into custody after Harewood was found hiding in the ceiling of his house.
When questioned by police, he told them: “Officer, I’m sorry about that. I was trying to help a friend from being charged.”
In a statement, which he dictated to police, he said a man, whose alias was “Ratty”, came to him and he knew the man was wanted by police.
“I heard it from people on the streets. I was doing a favour for him. I know he was giving police the wrong name and address. I’m sorry that I helped him,” the statement concluded.
Scott Colby Richardson “Ratty” Harewood, 35, along with his brother Stuart Kenny McMillian “Cujoe” Harewood, 37, both of Seaview, St Philip, had pleaded guilty to the non-capital murder of Derek “Bhingy” Hunte on June 3, 2014.
Hunte was shot six times in the back as he ran for his life.
Justice Pamela Beckles had sentenced Scott to 38 years in jail, while Stuart got 35.
However, after the one-third discount for their guilty pleas and the time they spent on remand were factored in, the judge ordered Stuart to spend a remaining 6 016 days or just over 16 years in jail, and Scott to serve a remaining 7 247 days or about 19 years. (HLE)
