Killer gets life for ATM murder

A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a woman at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) more than eight years ago.

Kishon Lemar Anderson Thomas, of Nicholls Road, Seaview, St James, received the sentence for killing 58-year-old Colleen Payne outside the Royal Bank of Canada’s ATM on University Hill, St Michael, on July 17, 2017.

“This is a dangerous, conniving, manipulative individual from whom society must be protected for a long time,” declared Justice Carlisle Greaves as he sentenced the convicted murderer to life imprisonment with a tariff of 40 years in the No. 3 Supreme Court on Friday.

Following deductions for the 633 days Thomas spent on remand and 24 months for the delay in proceedings, he will serve 36 years at Dodds Prison before becoming eligible for release.

Justice Greaves noted that Payne had gone to withdraw cash for her church when she was shot by Thomas, who, along with another man, had stalked the area seeking people to rob.

Deterrence was a key factor in sentencing, he added.

“Thousands of Barbadians, other residents and visitors visit the ATM at all times, including at night, to transact their business,” the judge said. “They should not be in fear that those who choose the path of entitlement and easy gain rather than earning by the sweat of their brow should be stalking, scaring, robbing nor killing them. The State has a duty in the public interest to maintain a state of supervision over such offenders for life.”

Thomas’ relatives had expressed disbelief that he had committed the crime, saying he had been well provided for and “lacked nothing”. The judge remarked that this was proof that privilege did not preclude criminal behaviour.

“So well was he taken care of financially, that according to them, he was even bought a car while he was on bail for this offence,” Justice Greaves said. “Privileged people are committing these crimes in this society today, many young men, with whom it appears to be no proper reason for so doing.”

Relatives had been concerned about Thomas’ association with “certain people in the Black Rock area”, warning him several times to no avail. “Thus again, showing a man of privilege with a love of the adventure of evil behaviour,” the judge said, noting the pre-sentence report assessed Thomas as being at high risk of reoffending.

Justice Greaves further observed that the convicted man’s prison report reinforced why “all steps must be taken to keep him isolated from this community for a very long time, until he is too old to run, to rob, to shoot and to kill.”

Payne’s sister, Ella Noelle, gave an account of the continuing pain caused by her sibling’s death.

“My sister’s untimely death not only affected me in the worst way imaginable but caused a ripple throughout the family,” Noelle said. “Five and a half weeks later, my dad, who was ill at the time, could not handle the news… and subsequently passed away.” Their mother died a year later, still grieving.

She continued: “Didn’t my sister have the right to go to the ATM that night, complete the transaction and return home safely? … My only desire is that he finds and holds on to a relationship with God. I am quite sure my sister would have wanted the same for him.”

From the dock, Thomas told the court: “I admit my innocence and I sorry that the lady lost her life on that day, sir.”

Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Krystal Delaney appeared for the State, while Thomas was represented by Andrew Pilgrim and Sian Lange.