Man gets 15 years for setting girlfriend on fire
Published:Saturday | January 13, 2024 | 12:05 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Emron Pilliner, the man who set his girlfriend and a business establishment on fire in 2021 following a confrontation, has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment following his sentencing hearing in the St James Circuit Court on Thursday.
Pilliner, who was charged with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, was sentenced by presiding High Court Justice Bertram Morrison to 15 years in prison on each count.
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning that he will only serve 15 years in total.
Pilliner, whose charges stemmed from reports that he doused Nicole Clarke and her business-place with gasolene and set both of them ablaze on May 19, 2021, had previously pleaded guilty in accordance with a plea deal that was reached following discussions with his attorney, Chumu Parris.
During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Parris asked the court to consider giving Pilliner a shorter sentence, citing his client’s remorse and attempts to help Clarke, who is now deceased, following the incident.
“It’s not a case where the man is saying ‘I’ve done no wrong’, but he is remorseful. By his conduct he is indicating that he is remorseful,” said Parris.
But lead prosecutor Andrea Martin-Swaby urged Justice Morrison to consider that Clarke, who was airlifted to the United States for treatment for her burn injuries following the incident, died a few months later.
“Ms Clarke was airlifted from the island to go overseas, and approximately three months later, she met her untimely demise. That is an aggravating feature that we have considered in terms of the sentence for the offence of causing grievous bodily harm,” said Martin-Swaby.
DIFFICULT TO PROVE
Notably, the greater charge of murder was not offered to Pilliner as it would have been difficult to prove at this point that Clarke, whose remains were cremated, was the same person who was burned by Pilliner.
In handing down his ruling, Justice Morrison noted that in addition to the prosecution’s stated concerns, Pilliner had two previous convictions for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
“I am not going to step aside from the recommendation of the sentence, especially in view of the fact that he [Pilliner] had two previous convictions for firearms offences. I cannot be seen to pat him on the shoulder as it were to say to him, ‘Go thy way and sin no more’,” said Morrison.
The facts of the matter are that on May 19, 2021, Pilliner and Clarke had an argument at Clarke’s business place in Great River, St James, during which it was intimated that Pilliner was not the father of Clarke’s child. Pilliner then doused Clarke and her business place with gasolene and set them ablaze.
Clarke was assisted to the hospital for treatment, and Pilliner was arrested three days later on May 22, 2021, when he turned up at a hospital in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland seeking treatment for burns he had sustained in that same incident.