By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN convicted of the 2018 murder of Rico Archer had his life sentence replaced with a 45-year prison term in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Franklyn “Chilly” Edgecombe, 55, was resentenced by Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson. His sentence will reflect time already spent on remand.

In July, Edgecombe successfully challenged his initial sentence before Justices of Appeal Stella Crane-Scott, Bernard Turner and Gregory Hilton, who ordered that he be resentenced before a different Supreme Court judge.

Edgecombe was found guilty of fatally shooting Archer as he tried to flee while returning home from a convenience store in Mason’s Addition on December 11, 2018. He was sentenced to life in prison by Justice Franklyn Williams in January after being unanimously convicted in September 2023.

During the resentencing hearing, Edgecombe’s probation officer noted that he apologised only to his parents and not to the parents of his victim. However, they said he is capable of rehabilitation if he chooses to do so.

Maryann Cadet, his attorney, submitted that her client faced a possible 30 to 35-year sentence.

Lead prosecutor Tamika Roberts urged the court to impose a 45-year term, citing Edgecombe’s 14 prior convictions, including causing harm, robbery, stealing and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Ms Roberts stressed that the murder was cold and calculated, noting that Archer was shot multiple times, including after he fell to the ground.

Justice Grant-Thompson sided with the prosecution, citing the brutality of the crime and the prevalence of gun violence.

Timothy Bailey also served as a prosecutor, while Stanley Rolle was part of the defence team.