Man Convicted of 2018 Murder Loses Second Chance Appeal

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A murder convict has lost a second chance appeal.

Joel Bullard, through his lawyer Craig Butler, sought to reopen an appeal against his conviction for the 2019 murder of Gary Leon outside Rocker’s Bar on Miami Street.

In 2022, the Court of Appeal affirmed Bullard’s conviction and 31 year sentence.

But Bullard sought to reopen the appeal on the basis that the trial was a nullity as he was tried under the wrong section of the Penal Code.

The Court of Appeal found that this was not an exceptional ground to warrant reopening the appeal, since the point could have been argued at the initial appeal.

Bullard still has the option to appeal to the Privy Council.