The King v Shadesha Phillip

• Jurisdiction: Antigua and Barbuda
• Judge: Bakre, J.
• Judgment Date: 24 September 2025
• Judgment citation (vLex): [2025] ECSC J0924-1
• Docket Number: CASE NUMBER: ANUHCR 2023/0050
• Court: High Court (Antigua)

Between:

The King

and

Shadesha Phillip

[2025] ECSC J0924-1

CASE NUMBER: ANUHCR 2023/0050

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

(CRIMINAL)

Appearances:

Ms. Rashida Jonas Counsel for the Crown

Mr. Wendel Alexander Counsel for the Defendant

SENTENCING RULING

Bakre, J.

1 The convict, Ms. Shadesha Phillip, a 27 year old young lady was brought to court by a two count charge of Aggravated Robbery and Robbery. On the 12 ^th day of May 2025, the convict pled guilty to the second count of Robbery and the Prosecution accepted the plea and withdrew the first count of Aggravated Robbery.

2 The convict is now before this court for sentencing.

THE FACT

3 The fact leading to this case is that Ms. Phillips and some other person had gone to Golden Grove service Station in the parish of St. Johns in Antigua and robbed Margaret Simon of the sum of EC$200 in cash.

4 The fact related by the prosecution is that on the fateful day, Ms. Margaret Simon, who is a pump attendant, at the Golden Grove Service Station was at work. She had her money bag, which contained EC $200.00 around her neck.

5 She sat outside the station on a plastic chair with her back turned to the ice machine when she heard a woman she knows as Cheryl, scream and then she felt a hard tug around her neck, immediately followed by a voice of a masked man saying; “gimmie the bag”.

6 The masked man then started to wrestle with her to get the bag from around her neck. She said she observed two masked men (one of which was the Defendant), one taller than the other.

7 She said she heard a loud explosion and became even more frightened and at this point, the man she was wrestling with then pulled hard, spinning the chair around with her still on it, thereby causing her to fall on the ground on her knees.

8 The Defendant and the other assailant then ran off with the bag.

9 The police came on to the scene and chased them. While they were running, the defendant fell. The other assailant attempted to assist her momentarily but as the police approached, he ran off, leaving the Defendant on the ground.

10 The defendant was dressed in black long sleeve jacket, khaki long pants with a black shirt tied around her head. After the police told her that she was under arrest for suspicion of robbery, she identified herself as a girl.

11 This basically is how the offence was committed and the convict is here for sentencing.

SOCIAL INQUIRY REPORT

12 The court is in receipt of a social inquiry report dated the 1 ^st of July 2025 and signed by the Director of family and social Services.

13 In the report, the convict was described as regular young lady who grew up under single parental care. She was described as a good girl who fell into wrong company by her family and community members.

14 The probation officer concluded about her that she is a young woman raised in a single parent household by her mother, with whom she maintains a close supportive relationship. She joined bad company in the course of her education.

15 She has become totally apprehensive to discuss her employment history because of her criminal background and the fear of victimization based on it.

16 She is said to express deep remorse for her past behavior and would be emotional when discussing the long term consequences of her action and the effect it has had on her previous employments. She is said to have shown a strong desire to improve her life and that she has learned from past mistakes.

MITIGTION

17 In mitigation, the counsel to the accused asked the court to note that the accused is a first offender and that she is now remorseful and now gainfully employed.

18 Counsel asked that the defendant a twenty seven year old lady should be considered for a non-custodial sentence in this regard. All these shall be taken to consideration in the course of this Ruling.

THE LAW

19 The offence of Robbery is contrary to Section 33(2) of the Larceny Act, cap 241 of the Laws of Antigua and Barbuda (1992). It says:-

“Every person who robs any person shall be guilty of felony, and on conviction thereof liable to...