Disparate sentences for escapees, harbourer were in keeping with laws, lawyers say

Despite the disparity seen in recent sentences handed down for some prisoners who escaped from the Lusignan Prison and a man who harboured an escapee, some legal minds say that the courts acted according to the law.

On July 26, Jamal Forde, Jamal Joseph and Winston Long, who fled from a Lusignan Prison holding facility, were jailed for one-year each for escaping from lawful custody.

The very next day, Esan Gibson, 18, was sentenced by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to three years in jail after admitting to harbouring fugitive Melvor Jeffrey, who had escaped custody while being held under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital.