Murderer Junior Jarvis, 50, today (Thursday) expressed his “sincerest apology” to the widow and daughter of banker Randy Lawrence, 39, who he shot and killed in Arnos Vale on Feb. 14, 2017 as well as the victims of his other victims that day.
On Nov. 28, a jury found Jarvis, a former journalist, guilty of murder and a number of other offences, and the sentencing should have taken place today.
However, it was adjourned to tomorrow so that the judge, Justice Brian Cottle, could consider the oral submissions of defence counsel Kay Bacchus-Baptiste.
Among the people to whom Jarvis also apologised were his own children, for not being there during their formative years as a result of his crime.
He said that despite his physical absence, he is “still here”, adding, “Where there is life, there is hope.”
Jarvis, reading a prepared script, said he was proud of all of his children for remaining as strong and focused as they are.
“I love you all and thank all of you for your love and support.”
His lawyer had earlier told the court that the social inquiry report was biased and did not adequately reflect the remorse that Jarvis had expressed for his crimes.
Bacchus-Baptiste said that Jarvis had written her a letter expressing his remorse and she invited him to express this to the court.
“I had no intentions of taking Randy’s or any other life on Feb. 14, 2017 or any other time,” Jarvis said.
“If I could have changed the things that took place between us, I would have done it and chances are none of us would be in this situation today.”
Jarvis said he was humbly asking Lawrence’s widow and her “young [daughter]” who he mentioned by name, to find it in their hearts to forgive me.
He also sincerely apologised to his own mother and sisters “for the pain and disappointment that you are all feeling right now.
“We have been here before and we made every effort not to let history repeat itself. But I let us down and I am sorry.”
Jarvis was speaking in apparent reference to his own father who was executed for murder four decades ago.
Jarvis appeared in a video posted to YouTube in 2011 with a Christian missionary who knew his father. In the video, Jarvis said that he would have ended up like his father had he not changed his life.
Speaking in court on Thursday, the convicted man apologised to his “best friend and the others who stood by me from day one” and thanked them “for believing me and believing in me.
“I am sorry for this outcome and I hope that they forgive me.”
Jarvis also apologised to his ex-girlfriend, Arisha Pompey as well as her cousin, Josette Smith, who he also attempted to murder on Feb. 14, 2017, saying he was “sorry that you ladies decided to take the position that you took in this matter.
“I am sorry that you chose to say the things you said. I would be lying if I said I don’t know why you took that direction. I am not angry, I am not bitter and in seeking forgiveness, I myself have to forgive. So, I forgive you both.”
Jarvis told the court that he did not wake up on the morning of Feb. 14, 2017 and choose violence.
“I know leading up to and on that morning I did some stupid things but taking lives was not and never was part of my plan. Hurting people was not a part of my plan,” he told the court.
Jarvis said that in his quest for leniency and mercy from the court in the sentencing exercise he was kindly asking the court “to note a few things”.
He said the two men who witnessed what transpired that morning were “in absolutely no immediate danger as they were behind me on the right side of the street and my shots were fired on the left side of the street”.
Jarvis said that his post “para bellum” on WhatsApp “was never intended for anyone”.
He said the word was written on the cartridge box and he researched the meaning, as he usually would, “and found out it was part of a larger quote, which is also posted.
“If I had known what was going on on the other end, I would not have entertained that conversation about the post”.
“Para bellum” is Latin for “prepare for war”. It is often referred to in the context of the expression “Si vis pacem, para bellum”, which translates to “If you want peace, [you should] prepare for war”.
Jarvis said his “so-called threats were never about violence. However, I can see in this case how they, along with other things said and done by me, did not [indiscernible] well”.
Jarvis said that a lot of things were taken out of context and unfortunately, he “did not explain myself properly when I had the opportunity”.
He said that Director of Public Prosecution, Sejilla Mc Dowall, who led the prosecution of his matter, proclaimed during her opening and closing statements that “man can’t take butt” (can’t cope with infidelity) and “a horn is a horn when you take it on”.
“I only learned that I was trekking butt in March of 2022 when I received the forensic phone reports that I requested. Arisha Pompey never admitted to me that she was butting me and Randy never told me he was the horner man.”
At this point, Bacchus-Baptiste interrupted, telling Jarvis, “OK, Mr. Jarvis, I just wanted you to say the apology part.”
However, Jarvis continued, saying “Yes” even as his lawyer again said, “Mr. Jarvis—”.
Jarvis, persisted, telling the court, “I just want to say, my fate, your worship, rests in your hands and I trust that you consider my heartfelt remorse very favourably.”
Bacchus-Baptiste noted to the court that in Jarvis’ words, he said that where there is life there is hope.
“The defence is asking you not to take away hope from this defendant,” she said, adding that she thinks it is novel for a defendant to, in his own words. address the court on how remorseful he feels.
The lawyer said it was necessary because he was disappointed that the social inquiry report did not reflect this except in three words.
Based on Bacchus-Baptiste’s submissions, the prosecution is asking the court not to impose a whole life sentence on Jarvis, meaning that he should not remain in prison for the rest of his life.
The jury returned unanimous verdicts on charges that:
on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, with malice aforethought, Jarvis caused the death of Randy Lawrence by an unlawful act;
- on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, Jarvis used a firearm to aid in the commission of the offence, to wit the murder of Randy Lawrence;
- on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, Jarvis entered the dwelling house of Josette Smith as a trespasser, and at the time had with him a weapon of offence, to wit a gun;
- on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, Jarvis attempted to murder Josette Smith;
- on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, Jarvis abducted Arisha Pompey;
- on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, Jarvis assaulted Arisha Pompey causing actual bodily harm; and,
- on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, Jarvis used a firearm to aid in the abduction of Arisha Pompey.
There was an 11-1 guilty verdict on the charge that on Feb. 14, 2017, at Arnos Vale, he attempted to murder Pompey.
Ronnia Durham-Balcombe also appeared for the defence at the trial, while the Crown was also represented by Crown Counsel Renee Simmons and Richie Maitland.
Well Mr Jarvis jail have you begging for mercy…but you taken a man who was full of life.. serious action will have serious consequences..no less than 35 to life in prison…he is in a dark cold grave while you still sleep on. Comfortable bed in prison
The man should be hanged just like his father. He never learned from his father’s experience and talked about remorse which perhaps was coached by his lawyer to say the right thing. The man was a gunslinger in its true sense as he attempted to kill several persons. He must be given the full sentence . While he can eat and drink in prison, his victim has no such luxury. Regina v Sussex must be followed.
Stop trying to sell us your lies and that is one thing you was very good at (persuasion) we want NOTHING from you and I wish no mercy on your life. You should rotten in jail (wicked of a man).
Oh boy. it sounds to me like this incarcerated man still has the longest part of the road ahead of him. The defence team has its work cut out