A man serving a life sentence for the 2008 murder of Estella Scott-Roberts will not be tried for allegedly raping her before her death.
On Friday, 3 August, Crown Prosecutor Elisabeth Lees told the court that Larry Ricketts, whose conviction for murder had been upheld by the Appellate Court, had since applied for leave to the Privy Council, where the matter was refused.
She explained that at the time of the initial trial, “The legislative framework did not allow for other counts to be joined with murder. Had they have been, the sentences would have likely been concurrent,”
in any event.
She noted, “Now that the conviction for murder stands, it would not be in the public’s interest to continue further.”
Mrs. Lees also cited that the trauma to the family of another trial was another concern for the Crown.
“He will serve the rest of his life in prison,” said Mrs. Lees of Ricketts, adding that to proceed with the rape charge in the matter
would have no practical effect. Ricketts’ codefendant Kirkland Henry plead guilty to rape before the start of their original trial for murder.
His sentence for that charge is running concurrent to his life sentence.
Mrs. Lees told the court that she would relay the Crown’s position to the family forthwith.