Despite remorseful submissions and heartfelt apologies from the three young people who killed David Blenman, prosecutor Crown Counsel Neville Watson today asked the court to impose lengthy prison sentences on them.
In his sentencing submissions, Watson suggested to Justice Randall Worrell that Jamar Antonio Pile and Shaquan Sherwin Omar Crichlow be given life in prison while Faith Angelica Pile’s starting sentence should be 30 years for killing the Barbados Defence Force Private over five years ago.
Jamar Pile, 30, his 25-year-old sister Faith Pile and Crichlow, 24, all of Skeete’s Road, Jackmans, St Michael, previously pleaded guilty to the non-capital murder of the 26-year-old Blenman between November 30 and December 1, 2016.
When they reappeared in the No. 2 Supreme Court this morning, they apologized to Blenman’s family and asked for forgiveness.
They also asked the court to be lenient in its sentence.
“I apologize for this offence I am truly, truly, truly sorry to Mrs Blenman, to Mr Blenman and his sister also. If he had any children I would also like to apologize to them. I apologize to the court, to my family and to my children. I feel as if I failed them so much, I left them at a young age,” a teary-eyed Faith Pile, a mother of three told the court.
“I think I have learned my lesson. I have truly, truly learned and I hope that the court and the family find it in their hearts to forgive me and to also show me leniency.”
She said her being incarcerated had resulted in her having to fight for the custody of one of her daughters.
Her brother Jamar Pile said he was “dreadfully sorry” as it was never his intention to kill Blenman.
“I would like everyone to know that I am not a killer and I honestly regret this has ever happened. Mr Blenman should not have lost his life that night,” he said.
Crichlow pointed to the fact that he had been incarcerated for five years and wanted an opportunity to prove he “is a good man.”
Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley, who represented Jamar Pile, told the court his client did not deserve imprisonment for life and asked the court to “temper justice with mercy”.
He said his client’s pre-sentencing report indicated he was a good candidate for rehabilitation.
Lashley indicated that a starting point of between 25 to 30 years was adequate.
Angela Mitchell-Gittens, who is appearing on behalf of Faith Pile suggested a starting point of between 15 to 30 years for her client.
She pointed to the fact that her client did not carry out the act which led to Blenman’s death.
Mitchell-Gittens said her client had gone through a “traumatic life” this far, which began with her being abused by family members at a young age.
She said even though her client had been deemed as having a high-risk of re-offending, those issues were being addressed as she was currently enrolled in programmes at HMP Dodds.
Attorney-at-law Safiya Moore, who represented Crichlow, also told the court her client did not deserve to be sentenced to life in prison.
She contended that he was only 19 at the time of the incident and had only gotten involved after Faith Pile, the mother of his unborn child at the time, indicated that she had had some challenges.
However, after listening to the submissions, the prosecutor indicated he would be seeking lengthy prison sentences for the three convicted murderers.
“The murder was committed with a high level of brutality, cruelty, depravity or callousness and the murder involved calculated or lengthy planning,” the Crown Counsel pointed out.
Watson said Blenman’s death had affected his family significantly, so much so that his father opted for early retirement shortly after the incident occured.
The prosecutor also pointed to several aggravating factors which he deemed to be concerning.
He said these included Blenman’s abduction, the significant physical and mental suffering inflicted on the victim before death, the fact that they took his bank cards and stole his money, the fact that they stripped him naked and drowned him and that the offence was unprovoked.
Watson said pre-sentencing reports deemed the three convicted persons as having a high risk of re-offending and in one instance, a medium to high risk.
“It is my submission that with respect to Jamar Pile and Shaquon Crichlow that a term of life in prison is appropriate with a review period of 35 years,” the prosecutor said.
However, both Moore and Lashley objected to the prosecutor’s suggestion that their clients be sentenced to life in prison.
Justice Worrell adjourned the matter until December 17, when he will hear their responses.
