Alexander and Haripersad released after ‘time served’ for gun possession

K’Shoy Alexander and Richard Haripersad have been released after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm, having already served more time in custody than their final sentences required.

The two, along with Jordan Jackson, were arrested on April 16, 2021, and later pleaded guilty to the charge, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years. However, presiding Judge Rajiv Persad exercised judicial discretion to impose lesser sentences, citing the circumstances of the case.

Alexander and Haripersad were each sentenced to 19 months in prison but were immediately released, having already served 25 and 43 months, respectively. Jackson, who served only 22 days in custody, received a sentence of 15 months and will now serve nine months with the possibility of an earlier release for good behavior.

During sentencing, the judge urged all three young men to avoid any further association with firearms. He also emphasized that while they were charged due to digital footage recovered from the residence of Shameek Grant and Akeem Hopkinson in connection with the Catherine Pickering murder case, there was no evidence linking them to the robbery or shooting.

The footage revealed that while the firearm belonged to Hopkinson, all three young men had only momentary possession of it, except for one, who was merely present in the room at the time.