Judge puts island’s gangsters on notice

Gang warfare in Bermuda is “like domestic terrorism and it has to be stamped out by whatever means necessary”.

These were the words of a Supreme Court judge in a premeditated murder sentencing yesterday afternoon.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves sentenced Devon Hewey, 24 and Jay Dill, 23 to life in prison for the murder of footballer Randy Robinson, 22.

Hewey and Dill will be into their 60s before they will be allowed the possibility of being free men.

Sentencing the defendants, Mr Greaves referred to the cases of David Cox and Antonio Myers who both were given life sentences with 38 years before parole eligibility for two separate gang murders.

Mr Greaves said the difference with this case and the other two is that Mr Robinson was not a gang member.

“In the Cox murder, it was gangster against gangster. In the Myers murder, it was gangster against gangster.

“Even in the attempted murder cases, many of which we have done, it’s gangster against gangster.

“In this case, it was gangster against an innocent law abiding citizen killed on the basis of a mantra practiced by gangs in this jurisdiction.”

Mantra

He continued: “A mantra akin to the Four Musketeers – One for all, all for one. If you rival us or any of us, all or any of us are entitled to come after you.

“If you’re associated with any of our rivals, whether it by blood or friendship, we are entitled to come after you too whether or not you are a member of a rival gang.”

Mr Greaves said there was a “sinister message” in such a mantra.

“It tells to every citizen of this country the following —  we the gangsters are in charge.

“If you oppose us we can take you out. If you insult us or anyone related to us, we can take you out.

“If you are related to anyone with whom we have a dispute, we can take you out and we will take you out.

“Such a disposition makes these cases more dangerous, more aggravating and placed in a category of the worst cases than the other types of cases that we would expect.”

Speaking on why gang cases are so bad, Mr Greaves said: “They threaten the very peace, harmony, security and confidence of a society.

“They plant fear into the heart of every individual in a society. They make the innocent shudder.

“The message therefore to such assailants must be strong and clear — we will not fear you. We will pursue you. We will prosecute you. We will try you.

“We will convict you and we will imprison you for such long periods.”

The judge added: “This is like domestic terrorism and it has to be stamped out by whatever means necessary.”

Shooter

Mr Greaves said a 38-year tariff wasn’t enough for Dill and Hewey because Mr Robinson wasn’t a gang member.

He also said Hewey shouldn’t get a lesser sentence than Dill because he was the rider and not the shooter.

Evidence during the trial showed Dill was the shooter and Hewey the bike rider.

Mr Greaves said in this jurisdiction, there is always an “assistant” in a murder case, usually a rider.

He added the rider is an “important component” of a gang murder. n