A woman was sentenced to two months in prison for giving a false statement to police officers during their probe into an alleged murder. Rebekha Persaud will serve her sentence beginning July 22 on the charge of perverting the course of justice.

Though defence attorney Valerie Gordon, who was not present at the sentencing, stated that Ms. Persaud’s testimony, in which she allegedly provided a false alibi for Kenaz Hazell, delayed the trial only minimally, High Court Justice Anne-Marie Smith offered a different view.

“It is a very serious offence. You lied to the police,” she told Ms. Persaud Monday in court.

Mr. Hazell was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery during an incident that resulted in the killing of Frankie Fahie on Jan. 6, 2017. It was for this incident that Ms. Persaud provided a false alibi to protect Mr Hazell. Both were arrested on June 15, 2017.

According to Ms. Smith, who read aloud the facts of the case, Ms Persaud and Mr. Hazel had a relationship that was of a “sexual nature.

Ms. Persaud had previously stated that she wanted to apologise for wasting police time. Ms Smith took into consideration Ms. Persaud’s early guilty plea her health conditions, which include asthma, and evidence to suggest her good character.