The 25-year-old St. Ann farmer who was found guilty of manslaughter in the St. Ann Circuit Court last month was last week sentenced to five years in prison by high court judge, Justice Lloyd Hibbert. He is Jeffery McFarlene of Windsor in St. Ann’s Bay. Mr Justice Hibbert handed down the sentence last Tuesday, as he presided over matters in the St. Ann Circuit Court. McFarlene was found guilty of manslaughter by a 12-member jury, which deliberated for a little over an hour on January 26, before returning with the unanimous verdict. The prosecution led evidence against McFarlene that on November 11, 2009 he fatally stabbed his step-uncle, Desmond George Brown also called Fitzroy or Fitzie a videographer also of Windsor District. The incident occurred at Brown’s gate. He died at hospital. The men reportedly had an argument over rabbits. Beg for mercy
During the sentencing hearing last Tuesday, McFarlene’s attorney Linton Gordon pleaded with Justice Mr Hibbert to exercise mercy towards his client. Mr Gordon begged the judge to exercise mercy and give his client a sentence which would allow him not to become lost to society, but one where he could be rehabilitated and return to make a valuable contribution to society. Mr Gordon told the judge that his client was not irredeemable and that he had not yet gone over the precipice. He pointed to the clean police record of McFarlene prior to the “unfortunate incident” that resulted in the death of Brown. The lawyer also pointed to the social enquiry report that placed McFarlene in a good light.
QUIET MAN
Community members expressed in the social enquiry report that they were in denial over the incident because McFarlene was known to be of a very quiet disposition. Community members, as well as his relatives, also asked of the judge through the social enquiry report, for mercy and leniency to be extended towards McFarlene. According to the report, McFarlene has expressed deep remorse for the death of Brown with whom he worked for nine weeks before the incident. He requested forgiveness from the victim’s family and lenience from the justice system. He also asked that he be given a non custodial sentence. It was also revealed that following the incident McFarlene had to seek treatment at the St. Ann’s Bay hospital for schizophrenia and had required ongoing psychiatric care. Although he was diagnosed after the incident, it is believed that the incident might have had an impact on him.
