Lovelace sentenced to death by hanging

Patrick Lovelace will face the hangman’s noose for the murder of Lokisha Nanton.{{more}}

Justice Frederick Bruce-Lyle on Friday, February 26, 2010, handed down the ultimate sentence to Lovelace after upholding a request by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Colin Williams to have the death penalty imposed.

With his hand in front of him, Lovelace stood still the entire time Justice Bruce-Lyle was reading out his sentence to him.

Lovelace, 40, was convicted on July 15, 2009, for the murder of Nanton, on July 2, 2002. Nanton, whose nude body was found hanging from a mango tree, was raped and strangled by Lovelace.

In 2005, Lovelace was found guilty by the High Court of Nanton’s murder. However, the Court of Appeal ordered a re-trial the following year.

Passing sentence, the judge noted that rape is a very serious offence and that he had to weigh the aggravating factors in determining whether or not the sentence of death is appropriate. “This court has taken into account the character and circumstances of the offence and the gravity. This court considers this to be a very brutal and heinous act and has no doubt in its mind that Lovelace had planned to rape Nanton.”

Before Lovelace could be sentenced, a psychiatric report had to be tabled in court. In that report, done and read by Senior Registrar at the Mental Health Center, Dr. Ameri Morris-Patterson, she highlighted that Lovelace had been admitted to the centre on a number of occasions, dating as far back as 1993.

Morris-Patterson stated that Lovelace denied the charges brought against him. However, in conclusion of her report, Morris-Patterson noted that Lovelace understands the nature of the charge brought against him and that he does not display any symptoms of mental disorder.

A social inquiry report done by Camille McIntosh stated that it was impossible to be conclusive whether Lovelace should be rehabilitated at this time due to a deficiency of information.

Bruce-Lyle said that while it appears that Lovelace’s killing of Nanton appears to be out of character, he had concerns on how the killing was executed.

“Having balanced the submissions made by the DPP as against that of the defense at this sentencing hearing, I have no doubt at all in my mind that this is one of the worst cases of murder in society. I consider it as the worst of the worst,” Justice Bruce-Lyle stated.

“I am satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that this is a matter for which Mr. Lovelace deserves the ultimate sentence. Any lesser sentence in my view would be inappropriate in all circumstances of this case. I hereby sentence you to death by hanging for the murder of Lokisha Nanton,” Bruce-Lyle declared.

Lawyer for Lovelace, Bayliss Frederick, has already filed an appeal in the matter.