Court Refuses to Reopen Appeal of Man Who Butchered Grandmother

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The appellate court has refused to reopen the appeal of a man who butchered his 75-year-old grandmother and tried to cover his tracks.

Johnathan Bethel is serving a 40-year sentence for the murder of Vivian Johnson on October 12, 2013.

The incident happened at Johnson’s Goden Gates home.

Prosecutors said Bethel killed Johnson by stabbing her 27 times before he went on a joy ride in her car.

Bethel later bought paint from a hardware store and started to paint the walls in a bid to cover up the blood spatter.

The cashier said that Bethel had a cut on his hands, which he claimed he got during his work as a butcher.

Bethel’s conviction and sentence were upheld in 2020.

Bethel asked the Appeal Court to reopen the completed matter so he could produce new evidence.

Bethel asked the government to pay for new DNA testing that he believed would vindicate him.

The request was denied and Bethel was advised to appeal to the Privy Council.