19 years at hard labor for stabbing to death an American teenager on the southern Caribbean island of Tobago.

A judge on Monday sentenced a man to 19 years at hard labor for stabbing to death an American teenager on the southern Caribbean island of Tobago.

Sean Antoine, 28, was convicted in April of killing 14-year-old Kitty Pepe of Keene, New York. They had dated previously but had broken up before he repeatedly stabbed her on July 1, 2005, at the home where she had been staying with her mother in the seaside town of Charlotteville.

Antoine faced a possible death sentence if convicted of murder, but jurors convicted him of manslaughter after he testified the girl had taunted him, a defense that outraged the girl’s family. The lesser charge meant he could be sentenced to as little as the time he had already served since his arrest.

Justice Geoffrey Henderson said at the sentencing hearing in Scarborough, the capital of Tobago, that Antoine did not deserve the lesser charge of manslaughter and the sentence was intended to send a message it is inappropriate for men to be involved with underage girls.

Wayne Sturge, Antoine’s attorney, told The Associated Press after the hearing that he considered the sentence reasonable and did not plan to appeal. Under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, he will only have to serve about 14 years of the sentence.

Kitty had visited the island occasionally since 1997 while her mother worked on sea turtle conservation efforts in Tobago, which had long been considered peaceful but has been shaken by a number of violent attacks on foreigners in recent years.

The girl’s family previously said they were hoping that Antoine would be sentenced to life in prison because of the violence in the attack.

READ MORE - 19 years at hard labor for stabbing to death an American teenager on the southern Caribbean island of Tobago.

two female British nationals were reportedly ambushed and raped by six masked men while on an isolated beach on the island’s north east coast.

Two men were assisting police in their investigations after two female British nationals were reportedly ambushed and raped by six masked men while on an isolated beach on the island’s north east coast.

Police said that the women, whose names were not given, are in their early 30s, and were on an environmental expedition which entailed camping at the location.
Police said that the women had returned to their camp to find that their belongings had been tampered with and as they were making preparations to leave, they were attacked and raped by the men.
The incident is also being invested by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture who explained that officers from the department would normally accompany students undertaking such assignments in these isolated locations.
“We need to determine where the break down occurred in ensuring that the usual assistance was provided by the ministry, as it is normal for students undertaking these outdoor assignments to be facilitated,” a spokesman said.
An official from the St Lucia Crisis Centre said that people need to be more cognizant and aware of their surroundings especially in unfamiliar or secluded areas.
“It just highlights how persons need to be careful when they are going to the beaches at night, even if you are in a car. Sitting in a car does not make you safe, it’s never pleasant to hear situations of rape happening,” said counsellor Ashley Rae.

READ MORE - two female British nationals were reportedly ambushed and raped by six masked men while on an isolated beach on the island’s north east coast.