Appeal Court reduces sentences for men who killed elderly woman and dumped her body in septic tank
The Court of Appeal (CoA) has reduced the sentences of two men convicted for the 2007 murder of Colleen Forrester, whose body was found hidden in a septic tank at a home in Campbellville, Georgetown.
Ralph Tyndall, known as “Nick,” and Anthony Hope, also known as “Papa,” were initially sentenced in 2015 by Justice Roxane George, SC, now acting Chief Justice, for the murder, which took place between December 26, 2007, and January 6, 2008.
Hope received a sentence of 62 years, with eligibility for parole after 40 years, while Tyndall was sentenced to 55 years, with parole eligibility after 25 years. A third defendant, Kevin O’Neil, was acquitted following a no-case submission.
Dissatisfied with their convictions and sentences, Tyndall and Hope moved to the High Court, seeking to overturn both. The duo argued that the judge’s summation had been biased in favour of the prosecution and that their defences were not adequately presented to the jury.
The men also contended that the sentences were excessively harsh and failed to account for their potential for rehabilitation.
However, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, delivering the Court of Appeal’s decision, stated that the men’s arguments challenging their convictions lacked merit.
Nevertheless, the court agreed to reduce their sentences after considering sentencing guidelines established by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in Trinidad and the objectives of sentencing, including rehabilitation.
As a result, Hope’s sentence was reduced to 37 years and Tyndall’s to 32 years, with credit for time served in pre-trial custody.
Regarding parole eligibility, Justice Cummings-Edwards indicated that the court would adhere to the precedent set by the CCJ in Small and Gopaul v. the Director of Public Prosecutions of Guyana.
In this case, the regional court replaced a 102-year prison sentence with a 30-year term, setting parole eligibility after 15 years and crediting time served in pre-trial detention.
Alongside the Chancellor, Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory-Barnes and Rishi Persaud also reviewed the case.
Attorneys Ronald Daniels and Nigel Hughes represented Tyndall, while Hope was defended by attorney Melvin Duke. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien represented the State.
The facts of the case indicate that Tyndall and Hope severely beat Forrester, 56, to death before wrapping her body in sheets and hiding it in a septic tank at Lot 55 William Street, Campbellville.
Hope, who was Forrester’s nephew, had been acting as the caretaker of the property at the time. The autopsy determined that she died from subdural haemorrhage compounded by multiple blunt force trauma.
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