FNM Pledges Amendment to Define the Worst of the Worst

smb('loadExternalVideo', 'watch', 'https://player.vimeo.com/external/1033672015.m3u8?s=f9447fbe1df678a865a780a9e127b9e6a9319016&logging=false', 740, 416, 'my_frame', 0);

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Amid the ongoing frenzy over what will be considered the worst of the worst, the Free National Movement is pledging to amend Penal Code 290 to define further what the worst of the worst is.

Currently, the Penal Code, outlines the murder of a law enforcement officer while executing his duties, the murder of a judicial officer acting in the execution of his duties, and the murder of a person acting on powers given to them by a police officer.

It continues, the murder of a person if they are a witness to a case, the murder of a juror or a murder committed by a person in the course of a robbery, rape, kidnapping, terrorism and any other felony.

“It obviously has to be amended, the Tito case if I recall correctly was a heinous murder,” FNM Leader Michael Pintard said.

“In fact, the circumstances of the child that was murdered again is worse than what you just read and still the justices rejected that as being the worst of the worst. So we have a hard discussion as a community as we go into this community.”

The term worst of the worst became a reality for us back in 2011 when the privy council overturned the conviction and sentencing of maxo tido, who was found guilty of the 2002 murder of 16-year-old donnell conover determining the matter wasn’t the worst of the worst. 

Many have called for the removal of the Privy Council but Pintard disagrees. 

“I see something circulating indicating that that is the position of myself and the FNM,” he said.

“It is untrue. You are unable, as far as I am aware to remove the criminal side and maintain the commercial side so we have zero interest in sending a message to the local investment community and the international community that we will remove the last Court of Appeal that we presently have.”

Noted defence attorney Christina Galanos called the term abstract.

Former State Minister for Legal Affairs and Attorney Damian Gomez K.C. says it is unlikely capital punishment will actually happen again in The Bahamas.

FNM Senator and attorney Michela Barnett-Ellis says there needs to be sentencing guidelines.

“One of ways you can incorporate capital punishment in that is when you get to the category of murder, set out in your sentencing guidelines what we consider to be the worst of the worst so that judges have the discretion to sentence someone to death within those parameters,” she said.