Caretaker given two life sentences for killing Winnipeg couple at their Jamaican home in 2018
The man who pleaded guilty to the murders of a Canadian couple found dead in their Jamaican home has been handed two life sentences in the killings.
On Thursday in Jamaica, Fabian Skervin was handed two terms of life in prison to be served concurrently with no chance of parole for 32 years and four months, his lead attorney Anthony Williams told CTV News.
In July, Skervin had pleaded guilty to the murders of 81-year-old Melbourne Flake and 70-year-old Etta Flake. The married couple had immigrated to Canada from Jamaica and had lived in Winnipeg for 53 years. They were found dead inside their St. Thomas vacation home in January 2018.
"It's important that people know that sometimes justice does get served, and in this case, Skervin is spending what's probably going to be the rest of his life in prison," Debbie Lee Olfert, the daughter of the couple, told CTV News in an interview from St. Thomas.
Olfert said she flew down to Jamaica from her home in Vancouver for the sentencing, which she said brought some form of closure to her.
"I've waited over three years for some modicum of justice," she said. "I'm just grateful that somebody is being held responsible."
Williams told CTV News that Skervin—a 29-year-old farmer—had worked as the caretaker for Melbourne and Etta.
CTV News has previously reported the couple had been killed during a home burglary. Their bodies were found by construction workers.
Williams said the court gave Skervin a discount on his sentence because he pleaded guilty to the murders.
"He asked me to convey to the court that he was sorry, he has expressed remorse," Williams said.
"The fact of the matter is, it does not detract or take away the very fact that two lives have been lost."
On Friday, the Jamaica court also dismissed the charges against Nekia Thompson – a woman co-accused with Skervin in the murders, Thompson's lawyer Hensley Williams told CTV News.
Williams said Thompson had previously pleaded not guilty to two counts and an indictment for murder. He said the charges were dismissed Friday, as the court found no admissible evidence to proceed with the case against Thompson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.