Rape, murder convicts set free by Mercy Committee

Sentenced for crimes described as disgusting, heinous and brutal, by the sentencing judges, three inmates of Her Majesty’s Prisons were last week released upon the recommendation of the local Prerogative of Mercy Committee.{{more}}

Free to walk the streets once again are Cordelia Stephens, Anthony Robinson and Grantley Bramble, after they were given their walking orders on Thursday, April 5, following a meeting of the committee at Cabinet room two days earlier.

Stephens and Robinson were sentenced to death in October 1989, after they were both found guilty of the murder of Stephens’ husband Glendon Stephens, which took place in January 1989.

High Court Judge Justice Satrohan Singh, when sentencing the then 36-year-old Stephens and her 22-year-old lover Robinson for the murder of the 51-year-old salesman, said that the crime was the most heinous one committed in St Vincent for a long time.

The deceased was chopped about the body in his Richland Park home on the night on January 9, 1989, and his body dumped in the yard.

The case was prosecuted by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Oscar Ramjeet, with Dr Ralph Gonsalves representing Stephens, and Theodore Browne defending Robinson.

At the time of their release, Stephens and Robinson were the longest serving inmates at the prisons.

In September 1997, a then 38-year-old Bramble began serving a nine-year sentence for rape of someone he was giving lessons to.

Less than one year later, 15 consecutive years were slapped on his sentence, following another rape conviction.

The former teacher was last week recommended for release by the committee, under the Convict License Act; which gives him permission to be at large during a portion of his imprisonment.

This permission could be revoked if Bramble commits an offence during his remaining sentence.

The Chateaubelair resident is also required to report his place of residence, or any changes to his place of residence to the police, on a monthly basis until the remainder of his sentence has expired.

Bramble was sentenced by Justice Dunbar Cenac, who said that the ‘betrayal of trust’ by the former teacher was disgusting, before imposing his sentence.

Bramble was defended by Arthur Williams.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves is the chairman of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee, with the other members being Deputy Prime Minister Girlyn Miguel, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Godfred Pompey, prominent medical practitioner Dr Ellsworth Charles, National Security Advisor Sir Vincent Beache and Pastor Adolphus Isaacs of the Gospel Hall Church in Mesopotamia.