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Brittany Jnobaptiste
A 27-year prison term imposed on 24-year-old Brittany Jno-Baptiste faces legal challenge as her attorney prepares to contest what he describes as an excessive punishment for a manslaughter conviction.
Speaking with Observer Media, the defence lawyer Wendel Alexander announced his intention to appeal following High Court Judge Justice Tunde Bakre’s ruling on Tuesday.
Alexander contends the sentence approaches the maximum penalty too closely, with the judge using a 34-year starting point before reductions for a crime that carries a 35-year maximum.
The case involves the October 2021 death of 66-year-old Wendy Jane Finch at her Piccadilly residence. Jno-Baptiste initially faced murder charges but later entered a guilty plea to manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility.
During sentencing, Justice Bakre considered multiple factors including the brutality of the crime, alongside mitigating elements such as the defendant’s youth, her diagnosed cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, and expressions of remorse.
The final sentence included consideration for 1,270 days already spent in custody and requires continued psychiatric care.
Alexander maintains his client intended to plead guilty to manslaughter from the beginning of proceedings but was prevented from doing so by prosecution requirements for additional psychiatric evaluation.
He also argues that the court failed to adequately consider Jno-Baptiste’s mental health condition while seeming to penalize her for cannabis consumption.
Alexander has committed to appealing the judgment regardless of compensation.
Twenty-seven years is a bit much all things considered.
Jane Finch family will never see her again. I can’t sympathize with Brittany cause at least she still get to see her family. Jane’s family can’t
Wendel you always appealing for appealing sake. Unless you are not being paid for your services leave the poor people alone.
You brutality murder a woman in her own home while she was minding her own business and they are trying to say you get too much jail because you are so called sick and I suppose also because you are a woman. When the appeal comes up you should get more jail. Too much crime , too much crime. When dem get ketch no sorry fu dem because dem no sorry for de victims dem
Wendell Wendell Wendell. Cut it please. This time is well deserved. This is almost like break in and murder. Let’s look at the whole story here now.
For what? You do the crime, you pay the time
This is a sad case. As the young lady needs help mentally. You going to put her in Jail which really doesn’t benefit her or anyone