By Teshell Samuel
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – Convicted cop killer Romeo Cannonier was sentenced to death by hanging Thursday morning at the High Court of Justice by His Lordship Justice Francis Belle.
Cannonier was beyond rehabilitation and felt that the death sentence was the appropriate punishment, Justice Belle said.
No date was set for the execution.
Cannonier was found guilty for the murder of police constable Delvin Nisbett on Oct. 24, 2007. The crime was committed on July 25, 2004.
The particulars of the case showed that Cannonier met the officer while walking along the road in Dieppe Bay shot him at least four times and robbed him. DNA testing was conducted by forensic examiner Rhonda Craig, and it was concluded that Nisbett’s DNA was found on an EC five dollar bill taken from Cannonier.
Makenia Lawrence, the ex-girlfriend of the defendant, and Gavin “Magilla” Gilbert, a former friend who is now dead, gave evidence against Cannonier.
Miss Lawrence told the court that Cannonier said to her that he killed a policeman for beating him up in jail and because he hated policemen. This will not be the last court appearance for Cannonier as he and three others stand trial for the murder of Gavin “Magilla” Gilbert scheduled for Feb. 19 of this year.
