One time Island scholar and Black belt martial artist Tisagh Chase sentenced to twelve years in January 2012 for the murder of Pearls Resident Kevin Hillaire in June of 2008 in an apartment building in Grand Anse in St George’s has been set free.
Chase walked out of the doors of the number1 Supreme Court on Monday a free man into the hands of his mom and other family members with tears of joy as the Court of Appeal quashed his twelve year jail sentence handed down by High Court Judge Claire Henry.
According to defense lawyer Ruggles Ferguson although the prosecution did not put up a defense in the matter the Court of Appeal upheld the defense’s argument in that at the time of the tragic incident, Chase was merely acting in self defense and in defense of another person.
Ferguson who opted in 2011 not to accept a bargain in favor of Manslaughter on the grounds that his client was not guilty told reporters on Monday that he was happy that his client has being vindicated.
The incident at the time surrounded an altercation at the home of Chase’s girl friend, one Trisha Haywood and her former boyfriend and children father Kevin Hillaire.
According to the evidence then, Hillaire entered the home in the night while Chase was inside, and proceeded to beat the young lady, Chase who hid himself in the bathroom to avoid conflict, decided that enough was enough, and later decided to confront the intruder, both men engaged in a scuffle resulting in the death of Hillaire.
Ferguson said based on the evidence then, this case clearly had all the hallmarks of self- defense however the presiding judge in her summation failed to give adequate directives to the jury on the issue of self defense and defense of another and therefore the Appeal Court Judges felt that the sentence had to be quashed.
The defense lawyer said although his defense team which also included Trinidadian Keith Scotland well known Criminal lawyer and Ian Benjamin criminal defense Attorney had some twelve grounds of appeal, based on the stand taken by the prosecution which was highly commendable, there was no need to proceed further.
Ferguson said it was unfortunate that Chase had spent two calendar years in prison when he should not have been charged with murder in the first place however he said he hopes that Chase had learnt his lesson and moves on with his life.
Ferguson described Chase as a very humble young man who regretted what had happened.
Monday’s Appeal Court hearing was presided over by Chief Justice Janice Pereira, Appeal Court Judge Mario Mitchell and Louise Blenman.
Reprinted from the Grenada Informer
