Convicted killer freed after 18 years

After spending almost 18 years in prison, a 35-year-old man, who was convicted of a murder he committed when he was a minor, was yesterday ordered to be released from prison. Sean “Pablo” Alleyne, of Saw Mill Avenue, San Juan, was ordered to be released with immediate effect by Justice Andre Mon Desir, who reviewed his sentence. In releasing Alleyne, Mon Desir ruled Alleyne had served his sentence and was no longer a threat or risk to society. Mon Desir warned: “You now have a new and fresh lease on life. Use it wisely.” An elated Alleyne, thanked Mon Desir and his lawyer Gerald Ramdeen before greeting his relatives seated in the public gallery of the Port-of-Spain First Assizes. State attorney Sabrina Dougdeen requested that the court order that Alleyne, who is illiterate, enroll in adult education programmes on his release.

 

 

Mon Desir declined saying there were many illiterate people in T&T who still made meaning contributions to society. As part of the conditions of his release, Mon Desir ordered that Alleyne take part in counselling held by the National Family Services Division with monthly reports being submitted to the court by a probation officer. He was also placed on a $10,000 bond to keep the peace for a five-year period and ordered to report to the Barataria Police Station twice a week.

Alleyne will return to court on November 2, where his post-release progress would be analysed by Mon Desir. Alleyne was convicted in 1996 of the murder of Roger Lloyd, who was shot dead near his Second Caledonia, Morvant, home on March 4, 1994.

He was 16-and-a-half years old at the time of the murder. 

 

 

While on trial Alleyne was identified by Lloyd’s sister, Portia, who was an eyewitness to her brother’s murder. Alleyne maintained his innocence throughout his trial. Because he was a minor at the time of the offence, Alleyne was sentenced to be imprisoned at the State’s pleasure under Sections 79 and 81 of the Chidlren’s Act. In 2006, High Court Judge Alice Yorke Soo-Hon reviewed Alleyne’s sentence and ruled that he should serve a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, with periodic sentence reviews. His prison term came to an end in February last year. A report prepared for the court by prisons’ psychologist Cyrus Williams said Alleyne was a model prisoner who interacted well with prison authorities and fellow inmates. He was also represented by attorney Varun Dibedeen.