St. Vincent man jailed for murdering girl he believed contaminated him with HIV/AIDS

A St. Vincent Excessive Court docket choose has sentenced a 26-year-old man to greater than 17 years in jail after he was discovered responsible of murdering a lady he wrongly thought had contaminated him with HIV/AIDS.

Justice Brian Cottle sentenced Desron Roberts, who had been remanded for practically 4 years awaiting trial, to an additional 17 years, 5 months, and 11 days in jail.

On June 27, Roberts pleaded not responsible to the cost that between October 24 and 27, 2018 he murdered Rhodesia Rochelle Bailey.

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The courtroom heard that Roberts, who was then 22, had a sexual relationship with Bailey, 30, whose home he frequented. On July 16, 2018, Bailey informed Roberts that she was HIV constructive and two days later, he went to see a health care provider, who suggested him to take a post-exposure therapy for HIV and to get examined.

Roberts started the course of treatment however didn’t adhere to the prescription totally as he felt that among the unwanted effects of the treatment have been too harsh. He had bouts of melancholy and contemplated suicide however was afraid to talk to anybody about his downside for concern of the response that he would face.

On October 25, 2018, he took a knife with him to Bailey’s home in an try to kill her. A passing villager discovered Bailey’s physique early the next morning. A autopsy discovered she died of a number of stab wounds.

Following his arrest, Roberts confessed to murdering Bailey and took police to the home.

In sentencing Roberts, Justice Cottle mentioned he noticed no have to depart from the rules concerning the goals of felony punishment, specifically retribution, deterrence, prevention, and rehabilitation and the courtroom should observe the sentencing tips until they result in injustice in a specific case.

He mentioned there was a major diploma of premeditation concerned within the killing, noting that Roberts took the knife with him to the scene and informed the sufferer that he had come to kill her.

Justice Cottle mentioned he discovered that Roberts didn’t have the coping expertise or social assist community to assist him to cope with the implications of getting contracted HIV and the related social stigma. He mentioned it was unlucky that when confronted with the crises, Roberts might solely resort to violence. He, nevertheless, mentioned he didn’t see Roberts as more likely to re-offend.

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