Buncum’s reports submitted, to be sentenced next month
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Romeo "Buncum" Cannonier
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Basseterre, St. Kitts: Over the next month, Justice Francis Belle, presiding judge in the case of murder which was brought against Romeo “Buncum” Cannonier, will review the psychiatric evaluation and social report which were presented him, after which he will prepare his judgment to be delivered early next year.
Cannonier was on 23rd October 2007 convicted of the 25th July 2005 slaying of a officer of the Federation’s police force, #454 Constable Delvin Nisbett.
According to evidence presented in the case, Cannonier met Nisbett while he was walking along the stretch of road between Parsons Village and Dieppe Bay and shot him several times.
Following conviction, Justice Bell ordered that a social inquiry and a psychiatric evaluation be conducted and reports prepared which he would have to review before the sentence is passed.
The convict appeared before the court today where Justice Bell was expected to rule on the reports, however, it was revealed that the Justice only received the social report and not the psychiatric report.
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Pauline Hendrickson, told the court that she did receive the report and it was handed over to the judge.
Cannonier’s lawyer Hesketh Benjamin, having questions with regards to the psychiatric evaluation which was prepared by General Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Sharon Halliday, requested that the doctor be called into court in order for matters to be clarified.
~~Adz:Right~~ Dr. Halliday, having taken the stand, told the court that during her examination of the patient (Cannonier), his mental state was “normal”, he answered questions without hesitation, was not guarded in answering the questions posed and acted normally.
She noted, however, that she felt that the report could have been more complete if other pieces of information such as a report from a “forensic psychiatrist” were included in the report.
During his plea of mitigation, Benjamin asked the court to consider a penalty less that the “death penalty” noting that Cannonier’s execution “would not stop killing”.
He further explained that “all murders are murders” and continued, “I hoped it (the death penalty) is not being asked for because of who died.”
In response, DPP Hendrickson explained that the crime for which Cannonier was found guilty is, “a crime against the justice”. She said that this was substantiated during the trial where a witness said he was told by Cannonier that he hates police.
“Death is fitting for such an attack on the justice system. … I submit that this is a fitting case for the death penalty,” Hendrickson said.
Having heard from both sides, Justice Belle said he would take everything into consideration and will return to court on 24th January 2008 when Cannonier is expected to be sentenced.
