Armed Robber’s 18-Year Prison Sentence Reduced on Appeal

The Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence of Deandre Henry, who was previously serving an 18-year prison term for armed robbery convictions dating back to 2018.

Henry was convicted for his involvement in two separate armed robberies that occurred in 2014. In the first incident on January 3, Henry and three accomplices targeted businessman Midhat Lwiseh and his staff at Fades building on Old Parham Road.

The robbery resulted in the theft of $26,200 in cash, a $500 safe, and a $2,000 phone. During this crime, Lwiseh suffered head injuries after being struck with a gun, and a shot was fired.

The second robbery took place on July 25 at Woods Mall, where Henry collaborated with Katamwa Bright and Julian King to steal a briefcase containing $1,500 from Sherry Carter, an employee of Benito Construction who had collected payroll funds.

The group used a hired Toyota Vista with altered plates for the crime, while King served as a lookout in a separate vehicle.

Henry, armed with a gun which he discharged during the robbery, wore overalls and a mask. Following the robbery, the group met at Burma Quarry to divide the stolen funds.

After pleading guilty to both offenses, Henry received a sentence from Justice Ian Morley of 15 years for the first robbery and 18 years for the second (which was aggravated by the fact Henry committed it while on bail).

These sentences were to run concurrently, resulting in a total 18-year imprisonment term.

The Court of Appeal has now ruled that Justice Morley erred in using a 20-year starting point for determining the sentence. According to the appellate court, the appropriate starting point should have been 15 years.

After considering mitigating factors, aggravating circumstances, and a reduction for Henry’s guilty plea, the court determined the proper sentence should be 10 years, 5 months, and 3 days, setting aside the original sentence