PORTLAND, Jamaica – A 30-year-old Portland man, who paid undercover policemen JAM$5 000 [US$73.53] to murder his father so he could inherit his wealth, has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

In handing down the sentence in the Portland Circuit Court last week, Justice Ingrid Managatal described Kirk Sommers' action as "distressing and shocking".

Sommers' lawyer said at the sentence hearing that his client's action stemmed from the fact that he had been deprived of his father's love.

But the prosecution painted a picture of a man whose actions were driven purely by greed.

According to the prosecution, Sommers, who is also the father of two children, had in June 2006 arranged with undercover investigators from Kingfish to murder his 59-year-old father, Keith Sommers – a well-known businessman and farmer in the district of Fellowship in the parish.

Sommers, according to the prosecution, agreed to pay the lawmen JAM$50 000 [US$735.29] for the hit and made a first payment of JAM$5 000, with the balance to be paid after the job was carried out.

Sommers told the undercover policemen that he wanted his dad dead to inherit his money and farm, according to the prosecution.

A sting operation was set up after a man, whom Sommers had originally approached to carry out the hit, informed the police.

The younger Sommers was given a house and a parcel of land by his father following his recent deportation from the United States on drug-related offences. (Jamaica Observer)