Distraught father pleads with court to send three killers to jail for a long time

In a tearful testimony, the father of a murdered man asked the court to inflict a long sentence on the “evil female and her murderous associates” who ended the life of a son, brother and promising soldier.

“Because of my upbringing I have to forgive the three murderers but forgiveness doesn’t mean without punishment,” said David Blenman as he gave a victim impact statement in the No. 2 Supreme Court today.

Blenman’s son, who carries the same name as his father, was found dead at the Foul Bay Beach in St Philip on December 1, 2016.

“David Blenman is dead. How does that phrase sound to me? It sounds like I am the dead person. I gave him my name cause I loved him. I’m David Blenman too. I just feel like I want to die. I wanted him to have my name to carry on my legacy. I loved him so much I wish I had died instead. We are left to deal with this constant, never-ending pain,” the father said.

Faith Angelica Pile, 25 and Jamar Antonio Pile, 30 along with Faith’s boyfriend Shaquan Sherwin Amor Crichlow, 24 all of Skeete’s Road, Jackman’s, St Michael, pleaded guilty to the crime. Details revealed that Blenman was hijacked, robbed, stripped naked, bound and ultimately drowned.

As soon as he began to speak today, the grieving dad broke down in tears and struggled to recount how he and his family supported his son. Being raised without a father, Blenman said he aimed to be the “best father” he could be.

He spoke of playing a major part in his son’s education and recalled the whole family enrolling in a mechanics course simply to support his son, who had early learning difficulties.

Young Blenman was a soldier pursuing CXCs to qualify for a higher rank in the Barbados Defence Force or as a police officer.

“There can be no greater impact – the end of a life of a son, brother, promising young soldier. We used to line the street. We thought he was the best. All he was doing is marching like anybody else but we thought he was special,” Blenman recalled.

He said his family are left to ask what David experienced in his final moments and how much he suffered.

“What are the lost, broken dreams and aspirations of David?

“One day you are carrying on as normal, complaining of all day-to-day things that in the grand scheme of things they mean nothing and then you are sent reeling into disbelief and never ending sadness that time and tears cannot heal,” he said.

Blenman said his son was a loyal friend who was betrayed.

“All David was doing was extending an… act of kindness to one of his murderers, perhaps an innocent looking female who turned out to be a devil in disguise. That is all he was trying to do.

“He would never leave a female on the road alone, can’t get home. The betrayal he experienced did not start with this female though. The betrayal started with his buddies. It continued with David’s ambush, his beating, his kidnapping, his robbery, his torture and ultimately his drowning at the hands of an evil female and her murderous associates,” the distraught father said.

He continued: “Imagine the trusted friends that he loved. I am sure he would have done all he can to help them. Instead, his so-called friends abandoned him. He was unaware of the consequences of his friends failing to meet whatever commitment they had to the female murderer. They bailed out on him, leaving him to face deadly consequences alone.”

Blenman said the “murderers” wanted his son’s money and since he had none on his person they moved onto to the next stage of the deadly plot.

“I agonise about David being transported to one of the most secluded places in Barbados where he had to fight for his life with a clear 3-1 disadvantage to three murderers with weapons; I believe they had weapons. How long was the trip to Foul Bay where the foulest of crimes would be perpetrated?

“At what point in these murderous steps could these murderers have considered their actions? Why did this female who started the whole thing not step in and stop David’s murderer?”

The father said punishment was not about revenge but to bring about a change.

“If I have not convinced you that a long punishment is necessary I would feel like I have now been murdered. You have to give the maximum. Anything less would be a travesty of justice. Do the right thing,” he ended.

Psychological reports were requested and the matter continues before Justice Randall Worrell on June 11.

Lawyer Angella Mitchell-Gittens represents Crichlow and Faith and Sade Harris in association with Michael Lashley QC represents Jamar. Crown Counsel Romario Straker, who is holding for Senior Crown Counsel Neville Watson, prosecuted.