Patrice Grant sentenced to 14 years

After pleading guilty, on 11 October,  to attempting to murder former BVI Police Commissioner Barry Webb, former police Constable Patrice Grant was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

On 14 October, Resident Judge Rita Joseph-Olivetti handed down judgement. Her Ladyship pointed out that the maximum penalty for the charge is life imprisonment: “The circumstances of this offence, by any standard are of the utmost gravity and the Court can only say that the Crown was both magnanimous and realistic in accepting the guilty plea on the first count and not proceeding with the other five counts. Patrice Grant attacked his superior officer in a way which was deliberate and callous and had the effect of striking terror into not only the hostages but I daresay into every member of the Police Force and of the public.”

The Judge went on to say that Grant was angry and failed to see that he was “the architect of his own misfortune”.  Grant, 28, is married and has three children. On 20 October, 2004, the day before the tragic hostage standoff and shooting, he had been arrested on domestic violence charges and as a result he had been interdicted from duty.

Resident High Court Judge Joseph-Olivetti said that “whatever stress Patrice Grant was labouring under...he could not control his anger”. Her Ladyship noted that he resisted all efforts by his colleagues to “talk him down” and as the events that unfolded show the extent to which he was prepared to go: “therefore a severe custodial sentence is warranted.”

The Judge gave due consideration was given to his age and the fact that  he pleaded guilty: “if he takes the opportunity to obtain counseling and learn some anger management skills (he) might yet emerge to be a useful member of the community.”

During the trial Grant’s former High School teacher, Mrs. Celia Georges testified that he had always wanted to be a policeman. She found him to be a straight-forward, no-nonsense person, one who helped with matters of discipline and yet was compassionate. Mrs. Georges, the Judge said, considered what had happened as being wholly out of character with the person she knew whom she described as “a model student and a model boyfriend”. After joining the Force in July 1998 he had gone abroad to the USA and Mrs. Georges was instrumental in getting him re-instated on his return in March 2004.

Grant also spoke on his own behalf during the trial. He told the Court that he was brought up by his mother and grandfather. He never knew his father and he had always been taught to accept full responsibility for his actions. He said he was extremely sorry  for his actions and apologized to all involved, specifically to Commissioner Webb and regretted that he was not there in person so that he could tell him so. Grant accepted full responsibility for his actions saying that anger, frustration and stress took hold of him and caused him to inflict serious pain on others. The Judge said that “what is noteworthy is that he did not seek to lay the blame on anyone else.”

Webb sustained wounds in the left  groin, in his left hand and most severely to his trachea. After a long period of convalescence, Webb is  now at his home in England and able to walk and speak. A bullet which injured his throat lodged in his chest cavity and according to Director of Public Prosecutions Terrence Williams “it cannot be removed for fear of permanent nerve damage”.

Grant’s Defence Attorney was Hayden St. Clair Douglas, and Director of Public Prosecutions Terrence Williams represented the Crown.