Hoopers sentenced for paralyzing Sweet-I

SOME OF THE Hooper family were resentenced last Monday for offences committed on October 30, 2010, including paralyzing for life student Sweet-I Robertson when she was 17 years old.

Brothers Shelton Hooper and Sheldon Hooper, as well as their cousin Roland Hooper had previously been tried on five charges. These included the attempted murder of one Lesroy DeGrads, the wounding with intent and attempted murder of Sweet-I Robertson, possession of a firearm with intent, and the unlawful use of a firearm.

They appealed, and the crown conceded the appeal on the basis that there were certain instructions that had not been given to the jury by the judge. A retrial was ordered, but the three men asked for a hearing before this date, for the judge to say what the maximum sentence would be if they pleaded guilty.

The judge told them that this would be 10 years imprisonment, and they subsequently pleaded guilty.

SWEET-I ROBERTSON (fp)

Shelton Hooper had been indicted on all charges, while Sheldon and Roland Hooper were not indicted on the charge of unlawful use of a firearm, and wounding with intent.

Ronald Marks represented the three defendants and Tammika McKenzie was the counsel for the crown.

Leading up to the moment the bullet flew on October 30, 2010, the parties had been attending the Miss Heritage Show at the Petit Bordel Secondary School. When the show ended Lesroy DeGrads was talking to a friend outside at around 2:30am.

An exchange happened wherein DeGrads called a male, unrelated to the incident a ‘pussy’ for pulling away a woman who had been talking to him. DeGrads had muttered, “them boy dey ah pussy,” and had heard it repeated behind him.

He turned to see that the source of the mockery was Sheldon ‘Cattaman’ Hooper, and therefore he began arguing with Sheldon. DeGrads started walking away, but could hear Sheldon behind him speaking on the phone, saying, “ya ya all ah dem dey here.”

Eventually they were walking past one Shermin Hooper’s gate when, DeGrads said, Shelton and Roland approached from ‘Plan Gap’ with guns in their hands pointing in his direction.

DeGrads started backing away, when Sheldon asked him “you ah run now?” while taking the gun from Roland and trying to crank it.

However, it was Shelton who fired a shot in De-Grads’ direction, which DeGrads dodged.

The bullet went in the direction of the Community Centre, where Robertson had been hiding. It went

in and out of her throat, and persons ran to her and took her to the Chateaubelair hospital.

Robertson had been walking away from the show and was behind Sheldon and DeGrads. She went to the yard of the Centre when she saw Sheldon approach her with a gun. Robertson also said that she heard Sheldon say while arguing with DeGrads when she was behind them, “ar yo nah bad man, somebody ah go dead tonight.”

Robertson is paralyzed from the chest down.

Sheldon had previously denied ever having a gun to the police, and said that his brother and cousin were the only ones with guns that morning.

Shelton said that he was hanging out at Plan gap, when he saw his brother arguing, and that he “buss two shot” and went home with Roland and Sheldon.

For the attempted murder of DeGrads and Robertson all three received eight years in prison, and subtracted from this was the six years they already spent in jail.

Therefore, the Hoopers will spend two more years incarcerated.

Justice Brian Cottle sentenced them to time served for the possession of the firearm, and for Shelton to time served for unlawful use of a firearm.

For the wounding of Robertson, Shelton was sentenced to eight years in prison, two years that day when the six years on remand were subtracted.

All sentences are to run concurrently.