Bishop killers released!

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Dec 2 – Three men convicted for the 1983 murder of Grenada’s former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and some of his cabinet colleagues were released here on Saturday. Andy Mitchell, Vincent Joseph and Cosmos Richardson walked out of Her Majesty’s Prisons with their lawyers after they were convicted on 11 counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 30 years in prison. They served 23 years of the sentence. They refused to give comments as some family members and friends greeted them but their lawyer Keith Scotland said it’s an historic moment in their lives. "My clients Messrs Andy Mitchell, Vincent Joseph and Cosmos Richardson express their relief and happiness on being released from prison," Scotland said. "They express their thanks to family, friends and other well-wishers in and out of Grenada, who have supported them in many different ways over the years. They desire to put the terrible and traumatic past behind them and to re-unite with their families and loved ones and to re-build their lives in a peaceful, disciplined and productive manner," Scotland said a briefing. Under the law governing sentencing regulations, inmates’ sentences are reduced by one third if they have been deemed as being industrious and well behaved. The three men were convicted along with Bishop’s former deputy, Bernard Coard and 13 others for the deaths during the military coup. However, the Ministry of National Security said that the release of these men is not based on any court action but is instead as a direct result of the sentences being completed. “It is Government’s hope that Mr. Joseph, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Richardson will rejoin society as productive members of the community and will live a peaceful life having learned from their experience,” according to a statement.