HIGGLER Beverly Scarlett was yesterday sentenced to seven years imprisonment at hard labour for the killing of her 66-year-old ex-lover, while her daughter and niece, who both participated in the beating death, received suspended sentences.

Scarlett’s 20-year-old daughter Chantel Clarke, and her pregnant 19-year-old niece, Shana-May Sterling, were sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended for three years. The court ordered that the two young women be supervised by probation officers.

The three, who were originally charged with murder for the beating death of Roy Reid on September 4, 2004, were found guilty of manslaughter in the Kingston Home Circuit Court on January 30.

During their sentencing yesterday, Justice Kay Beckford reprimanded a weeping Scarlett whom she said failed in her duty as a mother to properly guide the girls. “You Beverly Scarlett is the mother and it is to mothers that the society looks for love, guidance and care. The society expects a mother to guide her children.

“.You have not been kind to the children under your care. It is what you instill in your children as a mother that counts,” said the judge, as she chided the 55-year-old Scarlett.

The court was told that the women stoned Reid’s vehicle as he pulled up outside Scarlett’s Penwood Road home in Kingston at about 11:40 pm on the day in question, then set the car ablaze after Reid crashed into a wall in his haste to get away. When Reid, who suffered severe burns to the upper body, fled from the blazing car he was again attacked with stones and bottles, the court heard.

Testimony was also given that Reid, writhing in pain, begged a cop who arrived at the scene to “finish mi off”.

“Mi nah go mek it. Jus kill mi an done … a Beverly Scarlett and har pickney dem do mi so,” the cop’s testimony quoted Reid.

While on his way to the Kingston Public Hospital – where he died the following day – Reid again told the police: “After mi build mi house Beverly Scarlett run mi out an do mi dis. Officer, kill mi an done.”

According to the policeman’s testimony, Reid also said he had came under a sudden and unprovoked attack from Scarlett and her family members.

Scarlett’s son Oneil Clake, who is reportedly on the run, is alleged to have taken part in the beating of Reid.

Reid and Scarlett were involved in a relationship for almost eight years, but which ended a few months before the man’s death after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to undergo major surgery.

Reid, the accused and Oneil Clarke all lived together for a number of years at Penwood Road, Kingston 11, where Reid made major additions to what was originally a single-room house.

Yesterday, after the women were led outside of court, Scarlett wept bitterly while clutching a guardrail. “Mi lose everything! Mi lose everything! Mi grow mi pickney dem good. Mi a single mother. Mi grow mi pickney dem good,” the mother of four wailed, as a female relative close by threw herself down on a flight of steps and wept.