Twenty-five-year-old Leon Blease who was charged with attempted murder and had pleaded guilty to use of deadly means of harm, was sentenced to 7 years today by Justice Herbert Lord. Before he decided on the sentence Justice Lord heard pleas for mitigation from Blease and his attorney, Arthur Saldivar. Blease said that it was the first time he was charged for a shooting and was sorry for what he did and that it won't happen again.

Saldivar said Blease, like many young Belizean men, grew up without the benefit of parental guidance. He also said that Blease saved the court time by pleading guilty. Crown Counsel Christelle Wilson, who represented the prosecution said the victim, 35- year-old Freddy Grant, has a permanent disfigurement because two bullets are still lodged in his face.

Grant was shot by Blease on the night of September 17th, 2008. He was shot twice in his face and once in his back. Blease pleaded guilty to the lesser charge on Monday, April 26th, after Grant had testified. Before he was convicted, Blease was serving a five year sentence for robbery.