NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A man is challenging his murder and attempted murder convictions after the Court of Appeal upheld the verdicts despite finding serious errors occurred during his trial.
Fawkes was 16 when he allegedly took part in a February 2017 shooting on Scott Street, New Providence, that killed Leonard Sweeting and wounded three others, including a one-year-old girl who was shot in the head.
Fawkes and Stanford Pinder were convicted in May 2019. Fawkes was sentenced to detention at the Court’s pleasure, with a minimum of 20 years.
The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge wrongly admitted an alleged confession and misdirected the jury on its voluntariness.
However, it upheld the convictions under the Proviso, which allows verdicts to stand despite trial errors if no substantial miscarriage of justice occurred.
Fawkes is now seeking permission to appeal to the Privy Council, arguing that the trial errors should invalidate his convictions.