The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN convicted of a “contract killing” was sentenced to death by a Supreme Court judge yesterday.

However, 47-year-old Anthony Clarke Sr of Mount Pleasant Village told Senior Justice Jon Isaacs that he intended to appeal his conviction and death sentence, maintaining his innocence in the September 16, 2011 murder of Aleus Tilus.

Around 9 o’clock on the evening in question, Tilus was riding his bicycle in the area of Love Beach when he was approached by an armed gunman and fatally shot.

Clarke Sr was arraigned before then Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez in Magistrates Court three weeks later in connection with the murder, and in June of this year, he stood trial before Senior Justice Isaacs.

The prosecution produced a confession statement where Clarke purportedly owned up to the murder.

Clarke Sr allegedly told police that he was paid “a lot of money” by Tilus’ employer, who was not named, to kill the man because of an ongoing dispute before the Labour Board.

The convict’s attorney, Shaka Serville, submitted that the statement was obtained through force and brutality against his client.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict and the prosecutor Ambrose Armbrister indicated the Crown’s intention to seek the death penalty.

A probation report was presented in August which noted that Clarke Sr had shown no remorse for what he had done. He maintained his innocence and his decision to appeal his conviction and inevitable sentence.

Yesterday, the judge, having taken into account submissions from the prosecution and defence counsel and the probation and psychiatric report, agreed to the Crown’s request to sentence Clarke Sr to death for Tilus’ murder.

Senior Justice Jon Isaacs further informed Clarke Sr of his right to challenge his conviction and punishment in the Court of Appeal.

The convict said he would do so.

Jillian Williams and Raquel Whyms appeared for the Crown in yesterday’s ruling.

Mr Serville appeared for Clarke Sr.