The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

BABY killer Leroy Rolle saw his 25-year sentence for the manslaughter of a 15-month-old boy reduced by the Court of Appeal yesterday.

While the appellate court dismissed his appeal against the conviction, they did find the punishment for the March 16, 2007 death of Levano Brown excessive.

Rolle will now spend 10 years at Her Majesty's Prison for the crime and the sentence begins from the day of his conviction, September 14, 2010.

Yesterday's ruling comes seven months after his co-accused, 27-year-old Makisha Brown, had her conviction quashed by the same court.

This came after Director of Public Prosecutions Vinette Graham-Allen admitted the mother should've been acquitted at the close of the trial as their was no evidence against her.

Rolle, 22, was originally charged with murder along with Brown, but both were convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter by a Supreme Court jury. At the time of the incident, he was the 17-year-old boyfriend of the child's mother.

Brown had left her child in Rolle's care while she went to work at an electrical store on East Street South.

Rolle admitted in trial that he had beaten the child for misbehaving.

The couple tried to get Levano treatment at a private medical facility that afternoon, however the child was unresponsive.

Evidence produced in the trial revealed that Levano's body displayed several injuries including fresh bruises and cuts on the face, scalp, arms and thigh.

There was also bleeding in an eye and three parts of the child's brain.

Geoffrey Farquharson represented both Rolle and Brown in their appeals.