Man sentenced to 20 years for shooting a witness

A man’s lack of remorse before the court inspired no sympathy in return, the judge increasing the sentence from the norm.

Matthew Quashie was sentenced last week Thursday at the High Court, after unanimously being found guilty on four counts, including attempted murder, by a nine-member jury on June 30.

Quashie had shot Billy Adams, a witness in a pending murder trial, three times at Layou on October 2, 2016.

Justice Brian Cottle noted that the offences against Quashie were very, very serious, and that “not only did you attempt to take the life of someone, your motive for doing so is particularly egregious.”

Cottle cited as not right, “this attitude where persons ought to adopt a culture of informers must die.”

He said that when considering sentencing, he must demonstrate how the court feels about a particular type of crime, about deterring other persons who may be thinking of embarking on that kind of conduct, the need to protect society and that “you are a part of our society and it is to our community that you will return.”

He said that guided by the sentencing guidelines, 15 years was the notional sentence. He considered that Quashie did not have any convictions of a similar nature.

He also said that when the higher courts were asked what the “worst of the worst” would be, in considering crimes, they “included persons that tried to murder witnesses.”

“I am also taking into account that you, up to today, have expressed no remorse for your actions,” Cottle said, continuing, “you are not feeling or expressing any regret for what you have done.” He stated that he could not expect sympathy from the court in that case.

On the first count of attempted murder, the judge indicated that he was moving upwards from 15 years, to a sentence of 20 years.

No further sentence was imposed for the offence of wounding with intent. On the third count of possession of a firearm to commit an offence, he received 12 years, to run concurrently.

On the last count, involving the same firearm, no further sentence was imposed.

Time on remand will be subtracted from this, Quashie having already spent one year, nine months and five days in jail.