Lengthy Prison Sentences Handed Down for Convicted Bank Robbers

This morning, Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola handed down sentences for three convicted bank robbers after considering their mitigation pleas overnight. Out of the five men accused, four were tried and convicted, but only three received their sentences today. Sentencing for George Meighan was postponed to March sixth, 2025. The men involved are Anthony Barrow, Jason McKenzie, Leon Westby, and George Meighan. The trio faced charges of robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possessing a firearm without a license, one count of possessing ammunition without a license, and two counts of aggravated assault on police constables Robert Sutherland and Robert Parchue. They also faced charges for damaging an ATM during the robbery. However, only Meighan and Barrow were found guilty of damaging the ATM. The charge of assaulting PC Robert Parchue was dropped because he didn’t testify. Anthony Barrow received a total sentence of twenty-one years and ten months. He was sentenced to twelve years for robbery, ten months for assaulting PC Robert Sutherland, one year for damaging the ATM, ten years for possessing a firearm without a license, and another ten years for possessing ammunition without a license. His sentences for firearm and ammunition charges will run consecutively. Jason McKenzie was sentenced to ten years for robbery, eight months for assaulting PC Robert Sutherland, and six years each for the firearm and ammunition charges. Leon Westby received seven years for robbery, six months for assaulting PC Robert Sutherland, and six years each for the firearm and ammunition charges. Their sentences for the firearm and ammunition charges will run concurrently with their other sentences.