BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TWO London counsels, Julian Knowles and Edward Fitzgerald who are representing Romeo ‘Buncome’ Cannonier, Louis ‘Tolool’ Gardener, Ruedeney ‘Deney’ Williams and Sheldon ‘Hatcher’ Isaac, introduced fresh medical evidence into the case on Wednesday (July 6).
The four men were convicted and sentence to death for the killing of Gavin ‘Magilla’ Gilbert.
At the men’s trial, the jury had sat through seven days of testimony from prosecution witnesses, two from the accused, closing arguments and a lengthy summation.
After the verdict was read, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paulina Hendrickson, informed the court that she would be seeking the death penalty.
According to evidence presented, the four men had played unique roles in Gilbert’s orchestrated death. Also, in accordance with the evidence, Cannonier had masterminded the plan, Williams was the transporter and whistle blower while Isaac and Gardner were the executioners.
The plan was birthed, as evidence suggested, because Gilbert was a key witness in the case of the murder of Police Constable Delvin Nisbett; an offence for which Cannonier was convicted.
It was reported that Cannonier was behind bars when the incident occurred but other evidence presented indicated that he communicated his plan to Gardener through Lionel Warner, whom Sir Richard Cheltenham described as “the messenger of death”.
Evidence also suggested that Isaac was present when the message was communicated and volunteered his services.
Sometime between 9:50 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on March 21, 2005, Gilbert was gunned down several meters from his Saddlers Village home.
The fresh medical evidence which were previously objected to were permitted and given by Dr. Timothy Green, a US-based Clinical Psychologist, and Professor Nigel Eastman, a UK-based Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist.
Dr. Green described Cannonier as a “damaged” man and that he “interprets the world as a victim and has lost empathy for others”.
He said that he has been well-managed and contained in the institution but is a candidate for psychological treatment.
Dr. Green said Cannonier also has a low intelligence quotient, suffers a learning disability and had a traumatic upbringing.
He said that Cannonier has a compliant personality, which means he goes along with the wishes of others and needs intervention so that he could develop greater skills of assertion to deal with pressure.
Professor Eastman said Cannonier suffers a personality disorder that dates back to his childhood, adding that it is a different form of mental disorder.
He said that at the age of eight, Cannonier was affected by his father committing suicide by hanging himself.
“It’s a major traumatic event for a child to see. It is something that is still with him,” Professor Eastman said.
He said that as Cannonier grew, he developed an anti-social change in his behaviour and became less orderly than others and paranoid.
The professor said that Cannonier also has an abnormal tendency to be in control and has no form of empathy for others, which could lead to behaviours in illegal ways because of those issues.
Eastman said that he did not think Cannonier was beyond being reformed, and that he would behave himself if he were to be given a life sentence instead of the death penalty.
However, Sir Cheltenham reiterated that on the outside Cannonier would still be a danger to society.
Addressing Sheldon ‘Hatcher’ Isaac’s situation, Dr. Green said it was difficult to interview him because he had received head injury from a gunshot wound and suffers brain damage.
Dr. Green said that Isaac was not fit to stand trial and that he does not have a grasp as to why he is in prison.
“He wouldn’t understand why he is being executed…Isaac should be treated in a hospital and needs a brain scan,” he said.
He said that a scan would help minimise stress and assist him to build more skills, but he should be in a hospital environment.
Professor Eastman said that Isaac has thinking deficits and has significantly changed, adding that he also suffers from epilepsy.
“I don’t believe he should be in prison…he needs to be in a facility that deals with brain damage. Rehabilitation doesn’t necessarily mean you get better, but function better,” he said.
Dr. Green said that Williams had developed a style of wishing to please others to avoid confrontation.
He said Williams had mentioned that he was bullied as a child which resulted in him developing a “people pleasing personality to avoid conflict”.
“He developed a personality of going along with what people want to avoid embarrassment because of his low IQ,” said Dr. Green.
When asked by Cheltenham if he shows remorse, Dr. Green said that Williams is asking for remorse and does not feel responsible for the crime.
Professor Eastman said that Williams is under a condition of stress that would get worse.
Professor Eastman said the witnessing of Al Laplace’s execution has been a traumatic experience for Gardener who, as a result said, has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
