(CMR) Justin Kyle Jackson (25) and Eric Brian Williams-Soto (22), who were found guilty of manslaughter in the killing of retired prison officer Harry Elliott, have been sentenced to 14 years 1 month, and 10 years, respectively.
Jackson was also sentenced for a gun he was caught with four days after Elliott was killed.
“What is clear is this defendant (Jackson) was so connected to guns that he had ready access to a second firearm within 4 days of the first,” Justice Cheryll Richards noted.
In handing down the sentences on Friday, Justice Richards used a starting point of 12 years for Jackson. However, with previous convictions- one for wounding with intent- and the fact that he was on conditional release when he committed the offense, the sentence was increased to 15 years. It was further increased by six months because the offense was committed in a public place, a small, crowded room.
Three months were added for the clear attempt to conceal and destroy evidence by wiping down the vehicle.
However, Justice Richards said she considered mitigating factors such as his mental health and lack of emotional support from a young age. She also took into account his early offer to plea to manslaughter as accepting responsibility. She then reduced his sentence by 4 years to 11 years and 9 months.
Caught with gun four days after Elliott was killed
Jackson was further sentenced to seven years in prison for the possession of a nine mm Taurus semi-automatic pistol and nine rounds of ammunition, which he had in his possession four days after killing Elliott.
Justice Richards ordered that 28 months, or one-third of that, be served consecutively to the other sentences. This resulted in a sentence of 14 years and one month.
Reports are that days after Elliott was shot, police signaled a vehicle with two men aboard to stop, but the driver did not obey, and a chase ensued. The car eventually crashed and the occupants ran from the vehicle. Police caught one man, but Jackson was not caught. The gun was found in the vehicle during a search.
Days later, Jackson turned himself in to the police and admitted to being in possession of the gun. He told police he got the gun because he was terrified that the person who killed Caine Thomas was going to kill him. Thomas was allegedly the person who provided the gun, a 40 caliber Smith and Wesson, which killed Elliott. The gun was allegedly returned to him following the shooting.
Williams-Soto
The same starting point of 12 years was used for Williams-Soto in the manslaughter sentencing, with nine months added for aggravating factors; however, because he had no previous convictions and his age and remorse, his sentence was reduced to 10 years.
Both men were sentenced to 10 years in prison for the possession of the firearm, which was used, to run concurrent to the sentence for manslaughter.
Jackson and Williams-Soto were both charged with murder; however, a jury found them guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
During the trial, the prosecution said Elliot (63) was killed in a robbery gone “horribly wrong” as he was leaving an illegal gambling shop in George Town.
Both defendants admitted to taking part in the attempted robbery; however, Jackson's defense was that the gun was accidentally fired. Williams-Soto claimed he did not know Jackson was armed during the robbery until the gun was fired.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard that Elliott's father, who had a heart attack on hearing the news of his son's death, died one week after his son. Elliott had just retired after serving 36 years as a prison officer when he was killed.
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