A jury acquitted him of manslaughter but convicted him of burglary on Thursday and today a judge sentenced 20 year old Robert Gillett to 8 years in jail. Gillett was charged for the burglary of Floyd Brown’s home in Lord’s Bank in June of 2005 where he and his younger brother John Chessman were accused of killing 20 year old maid Mara Naomi Garcia.
Gillett originally pled guilty to manslaughter but a judge rejected his plea after Gillett told him that he didn’t kill Mara Noemi Garcia – his brother did. Today at sentencing, he took responsibility for the burglary and begged the family of his victim for forgiveness and Justice Adolph Lucas for mercy. He told the court it was a learning experience for him. Gillett’s attorney Anthony Sylvester asked the court to consider that his client was only 16 when the incident occurred and that he had already spent 3 years in jail awaiting trial.
In passing sentence Justice Lucas noted that Gillett has a previous conviction for handling stolen goods and wounding in addition to escape. So instead of the minimum of 7 – Justice Lucas sentenced him to 8 years in prison.
His younger John Chessman who allegedly masterminded the cruel murder walked after his lawyer successfully argued that his constitutional rights were breached when he was questioned by police without the presence of a parent or attorney.
