Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 26, 2006 17:34:26 GMT -5
Convicted Murderer Wants Death Penalty
Senior Justice Anita Allen could decide this week whether to grant murder
convict Cordell Farrington his wish and sentence him to death.
A probation officer from the Ministry of Social Services and Community
Development revealed on Friday that Farrington, who was recently convicted
of murdering his lover, Jamal Robbins, has asked to be put to death.
Reading a probation report during the sentencing hearing in the Supreme
Court on Friday, Matrena Carey said 38-year-old Farrington has asked for
the death penalty because he does not wish to "linger on" in Her Majestys
Prison.
"He said he didnt want a life sentence because he was thinking about
committing suicide," Ms. Carey said.
Farrington reportedly attempted suicide on three occasions the first when
he was just 13-years-old. According to Ms. Carey, Farrington reported that
at the time, he attempted to consume Baygon insecticide.
Farrington reported that he tried to kill himself after a homosexual
relationship in which he was involved ended.
Based on the probation report, Farrington made two suicide attempts while
in prison. In one case, Farrington reportedly tried to slit his wrist, and
he consumed bleach on another occasion.
Prison officials confirmed these 2 suicide attempts.
Ms. Carey read from the report that Farrington admitted to killing
Robbins, saying that Robbins said that he would leave him because he was
no longer able to sustain his way of life.
She said that Farrington told her that he preferred for Robbins to die so
that they would be together spiritually.
"We lived together and I took care of all his financial needs. He was
accustomed to nice stuff," Ms. Carey read.
Farrington met Robbins in 2001 while they were patients at the Sandilands
Rehabilitation Centre.
In the report, Farrington claimed that his HIV status was revealed during
group counseling sessions, and despite knowing that he was HIV positive,
Robbins still wanted a relationship with him.
According to the report, Farrington checked himself in at Sandilands on 2
occasions for drug rehabilitation.
In the report, Farrington admitted to smoking marijuana, snorting cocaine
and basing cocaine.
In the report, Farrington alleged that he was sexually abused and beaten
as a child growing up.
The report drew reference to an incident where Farrington alleged that his
mother beat him so badly she broke his leg.
After this incident, the report said Farrington was sent to live with his
paternal grandmother in Cat Island and stayed with her from he was 8 until
he was 12.
However, he claimed that he was also treated badly by his grandmother.
Ms. Carey said Farrington described his grandmother as "horrible".
The probation officer added that Farrington told her that he found a puppy
when he was living in Cat Island, but was told by his grandmother to drown
the puppy by attaching a rope to his neck and tossing it into the sea.
Farrington claimed that killing the puppy affected him.
Farrington also alleged in the report that his grandmother embarrassed
him. On one occasion when he was in grade 5 or 6, Ms. Carey read,
Farrington reported that he had a problem with controlling his bladder and
often wet his bed.
Farrington alleged that his grandmother brought the wet sheets to his
school and showed the other children how he wet the sheets.
Ms. Carey revealed that Farrington told her that an older male cousin had
molested him during his teenage years. He also claimed that he carried on
a homosexual relationship with a neighbour.
The report also stated that Farrington claimed that he had sexual
relations with his 2 younger sisters. However, in the report, the sisters
denied that they had any sexual relations with their brother.
In fact, the report said that the women were shocked to hear that their
brother had claimed that he had sexual relations with them, and that their
mother had mistreated them.
Ms. Carey said the sisters said their mother was a disciplinarian.
However, they said they grew up in a loving home.
It was revealed during the hearing that Farringtons mother refused to give
evidence for the social report and said she no longer has a son.
The prosecution is expected to question at least one other probation
officer before Justice Allen hands down a sentence.
In March, the Privy Council ruled that the mandatory death sentence in The
Bahamas was unconstitutional. It is why judges now have to use their
discretion to determine sentences for convicted murders.
Justice Allen adjourned the sentencing hearing to 10:30am Thursday.
(source: The Bahama Journal)
Senior Justice Anita Allen could decide this week whether to grant murder
convict Cordell Farrington his wish and sentence him to death.
A probation officer from the Ministry of Social Services and Community
Development revealed on Friday that Farrington, who was recently convicted
of murdering his lover, Jamal Robbins, has asked to be put to death.
Reading a probation report during the sentencing hearing in the Supreme
Court on Friday, Matrena Carey said 38-year-old Farrington has asked for
the death penalty because he does not wish to "linger on" in Her Majestys
Prison.
"He said he didnt want a life sentence because he was thinking about
committing suicide," Ms. Carey said.
Farrington reportedly attempted suicide on three occasions the first when
he was just 13-years-old. According to Ms. Carey, Farrington reported that
at the time, he attempted to consume Baygon insecticide.
Farrington reported that he tried to kill himself after a homosexual
relationship in which he was involved ended.
Based on the probation report, Farrington made two suicide attempts while
in prison. In one case, Farrington reportedly tried to slit his wrist, and
he consumed bleach on another occasion.
Prison officials confirmed these 2 suicide attempts.
Ms. Carey read from the report that Farrington admitted to killing
Robbins, saying that Robbins said that he would leave him because he was
no longer able to sustain his way of life.
She said that Farrington told her that he preferred for Robbins to die so
that they would be together spiritually.
"We lived together and I took care of all his financial needs. He was
accustomed to nice stuff," Ms. Carey read.
Farrington met Robbins in 2001 while they were patients at the Sandilands
Rehabilitation Centre.
In the report, Farrington claimed that his HIV status was revealed during
group counseling sessions, and despite knowing that he was HIV positive,
Robbins still wanted a relationship with him.
According to the report, Farrington checked himself in at Sandilands on 2
occasions for drug rehabilitation.
In the report, Farrington admitted to smoking marijuana, snorting cocaine
and basing cocaine.
In the report, Farrington alleged that he was sexually abused and beaten
as a child growing up.
The report drew reference to an incident where Farrington alleged that his
mother beat him so badly she broke his leg.
After this incident, the report said Farrington was sent to live with his
paternal grandmother in Cat Island and stayed with her from he was 8 until
he was 12.
However, he claimed that he was also treated badly by his grandmother.
Ms. Carey said Farrington described his grandmother as "horrible".
The probation officer added that Farrington told her that he found a puppy
when he was living in Cat Island, but was told by his grandmother to drown
the puppy by attaching a rope to his neck and tossing it into the sea.
Farrington claimed that killing the puppy affected him.
Farrington also alleged in the report that his grandmother embarrassed
him. On one occasion when he was in grade 5 or 6, Ms. Carey read,
Farrington reported that he had a problem with controlling his bladder and
often wet his bed.
Farrington alleged that his grandmother brought the wet sheets to his
school and showed the other children how he wet the sheets.
Ms. Carey revealed that Farrington told her that an older male cousin had
molested him during his teenage years. He also claimed that he carried on
a homosexual relationship with a neighbour.
The report also stated that Farrington claimed that he had sexual
relations with his 2 younger sisters. However, in the report, the sisters
denied that they had any sexual relations with their brother.
In fact, the report said that the women were shocked to hear that their
brother had claimed that he had sexual relations with them, and that their
mother had mistreated them.
Ms. Carey said the sisters said their mother was a disciplinarian.
However, they said they grew up in a loving home.
It was revealed during the hearing that Farringtons mother refused to give
evidence for the social report and said she no longer has a son.
The prosecution is expected to question at least one other probation
officer before Justice Allen hands down a sentence.
In March, the Privy Council ruled that the mandatory death sentence in The
Bahamas was unconstitutional. It is why judges now have to use their
discretion to determine sentences for convicted murders.
Justice Allen adjourned the sentencing hearing to 10:30am Thursday.
(source: The Bahama Journal)