UPDATE: Kandy James gets sentence reduced to 3 years
Appearing in the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court this morning May 7, 2013, Ms James had her sentence reduced to 3 years for each charge, which will now run concurrently as opposed to the previous consecutive .
James was represented by attorney Dr J.S. Archibald QC while representing the crown was Ms Tiffany Scatliffe.
See previous article posted on December 13, 2011
James gets 7 years in jail, Richardson 4 for plotting abortion!
-Judge says James was the mastermind and Richardson was naïve and stupid
This morning December 13, 2011 in the High Court, Kandy James was sentenced to seven years in prison and Akeem Richardson to four years for attempting to abort the pregnancy of a teenager in February 2010.
James got four years for procuring a substance that could have resulted in a miscarriage and three years for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Her sentences are to run consecutively.
As for Richardson, he got four years for procuring a substance that could have resulted in a miscarriage and two years for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His sentence is to run concurrently.
In handing down the sentences, Justice Indra Hariprashad-Charles described the event that took place as "evil, demonic and satanic".
Justice Hariprashad-Charles announced the case was one of the most unfortunate ones with two young people having to spend some time in prison.
She admitted to reading the facts of the case about 10 ten times, “and each time I read it the penalty went up, and it is sad.”
The Judge also accepted that Richardson was repentant, while James “did not strike me to be very remorseful”.
She added, "James was the mastermind behind all of this; while Richardson was naïve and stupid…the social inquiry report did not speak highly of James.”
At the sentence hearing held on December 13, 2011 the court heard the disturbing details of how James, 31 and Richardson 25 carried out the action a Road Town hotel on February 28, 2010.
According to the Crown, James had concealed her identity while she choked and hit a then pregnant 17 year-old Virtual Complainant while Richardson inserted pills in her private parts and down her throat.
The court had heard of the text messages between the couple revealing James’ disappointment that Richardson impregnated the VC, and was instrumental in how the event unfolded at the hotel.
Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin also noted that it was James who procured the pills that were inserted in the VC’s private parts and down her throat.
Aggravating factors
According to Crown Counsel Benjamin, there were seven aggravating factors in the case. She noted that the Crown considered the couple’s action to be a serious one given the risk to the VC, the VC was 17 at the time; pregnant; sufficient degree of planning was involved; it was a joint effort two against one; violence was used; James used a masked to conceal her identity and the VC’s life was put at risk.
The only mitigating factors were that the duo pleaded guilty to two counts on the indictment and are of good character.
Couple apologised
During the hearing, Richardson had apologised to the court, the VC and her family. “I am young man who had a business with his father…. I realized that it was a serious offence,” he had stated.
A remorseful James admitted that she made a mistake and apologised to the court, the VC, the VC’s family, as well as her family. The defendant acknowledged that she is aware of the embarrassment she caused, and that her actions are well published in the public and was willing to face the consequences.
“It has affected me dramatically…and I believe I have been imprisoned already,” she added. James is also the mother of a seven year-old son.
The maximum sentence for assault is five years, while intent to procure an abortion carries a seven year sentence.
Richardson was represented by Stephen Daniels, while Duane Jean Baptiste represented James.
67 Responses to “UPDATE: Kandy James gets sentence reduced to 3 years”
You ppl are Godless and quick to judge. Most you yall lie in your beds at wee hours of the morning worry how to cover your sins at least her's is out in the open and she can now deal with it. When you dress and go to church on Sunday, remember who you praying to. He can open lift you up and bring your @$Z down.
It is her pride that brought her down. she has a testimony.
That &itch she will return to prison because A..k.. will never stop CHEATING!!! Ask him who he was with Christmas!!!