Pair involved in Hubert Mothé’s death sentenced to life |26 November 2022

Ryan Neddy Underwood aged 33 years old and 26-year-old Steffie Nikita Mary Robert have both been sentenced to life for their roles in the death of Hubert Mothé, which occurred earlier this year.

The pair's fate was decided by the nine jurors selected to decide on the case, who gave their verdict at around 9.30pm yesterday at the Supreme Court.

Mothé died after being stabbed with a knife on February 11, 2022, during an incident which occured in the vicinity of his home, at St Louis.

Both convicts, Underwood and Robert, the first who was represented by counsel Anthony Juliette, while the second by Alexia Amesbury,  had pleaded not guilty to murder, and aiding and abetting to commit a murder, respectively.

According to witness evidence, Steffie Robert and Hubert Mothé were during the early hours of the evening involved in an altercation, and were swearing at each other.  At the time, Mothé was sitting with some friends, next to a mango tree, and a field close to his home.

As the altercation escalated, Mothé moved away from where he was sitting, and was followed by Robert. Still, according to witnesses, her boyfriend, Ryan Underwood turned up within minutes and proceeded to take out a knife and waved it around as he approached Mothé. Mothé proceeded to run away and Ryan gave chase. At some point, Mothé fell to the ground where Ryan stabbed him with a knife.

Mothé was carried to a car nearby with blood dripping from his shirt, and was transported to the Seychelles Hospital. He succumbed to the injury in his chest and died shortly after.

The incident was witnessed by Hubert Mothé’s mother, friends, neighbours, and various others who provided evidence to the court through the trial.

Court had also heard that Steffie Robert had apparently had an altercation with Hubert's brother a week prior to the incident.

Prior to the jury's deliberations yesterday, presiding judge Melchior Vidot put before the jurors the daunting decision before them, in deciding whether Mothé’s death was a result of murder, and if so, they would have to determine if Ryan Underwood was the one who committed the crime, assisted by Steffie Robert.

He went on to note that should they determine that there was provocation, Ryan Underwood could be convicted of manslaughter but if the jury should find that Ryan acted out of self defence, they could decide that the pair be acquitted.

He also asked that jurors consider real evidence, taking into account direct or indirect evidence, namely witnesses’ testimonies, documents and exhibits presented before the court, and their own observations.

The jury was given a minimum of two hours in which to deliberate and give their verdict.

Laura Pillay