Derek Spalding Eligible For Parole After 25 Yrs
Following an exchange of words in the Courtroom between convicted murderer Derek Spalding and Justice Carlisle Greaves, Spalding’s sentence was amended so that instead of being eligible for parole after 38 years, he is now eligible after 25 years.
In 2012, Spalding was found guilty of the murder of Shaki Crockwell, a national level football player who was murdered in 2007. The 25-year-old’s body was found on the Railway Trail in Devonshire on 24th August 2007.
On first appearing in Court today, Spalding, who was unrepresented, asked for an adjournment saying that he wanted to be represented by a lawyer. On being questioned by the Justice, Spalding admitted that he had not retained a lawyer but had spoken, that morning, to a lawyer and had requested his assistance.
File photo of Derek Spaulding:
Justice Greaves told Spalding that he would refuse his request for an adjournment given that Spalding had already had many opportunities to deal with his matters before coming to Court today.
Justice Greaves reminded Spalding that, on one occasion, in December 2013, Spalding had refused to leave his cell in order to come to Court on this matter; and that the Court record showed that Spalding had dismissed the lawyer who had been representing him.
With that, Spalding launched into a tirade saying: “I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t put in an application for re-sentencing…”.
Spalding continued until Justice Greaves ordered him removed from Court and brought back later after he had quietened down, at which point Spalding told Justice Greaves: “Can you just give me my time so I can get out of here.”
When Spalding was originally sentenced in 2012, Shaki Crockwell’s father Danny Crockwell said, “Justice has been served yes, but he needed to get more than 38 years.
“I hope he rots in jail. But – he got 38 years, believe me, the Almighty will give him more than that when he goes there. He is going to have to deal with the Father.
Pointing to the sky, Mr Crockwell said, “You can’t go there for murder. He will say ‘I gave you life. I didn’t give you life to take life.”
Danny Crockwell speaking after the original sentence of 38 years before parole in 2012:
The re-sentencing follows a ruling from the Privy Council in London last year [PDF], which stated that Bermuda laws do not allow for a minimum sentence over 25 years for premeditated murder and 15 years for murder, resulting in some convicted murderers having their sentences reduced.
Spalding’s sentence reduction was the second one today, following after that of Kevin Warner – who was convicted of murder of Dekimo “Purple” Martin — whose original sentence that he must remain jailed for 35 years before being eligible for parole was also amended to 25 years.
The changes to Warner and Spalding’s eligibility for parole follow after Antonio Myers eligibility [murder of Kumi Harford] was reduced by 23 years, David Cox’s [murder of Troy “Yankee” Rawlins] was reduced by 13 years, Ze Selassie’s [murder of Rhiana Moore] was reduced by 10 years, while Jermaine Pearman’s [murder of Shakeya DeRoza] was also reduced by 10 years.
Spalding’s life sentence still stands, however before he was eligible for parole after 35 years, and now he is eligible after 25 years.
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If BDA’s laws read that a max. of 25 years can be granted before parole hearings why do the judges keep on handing out >25 year sentences? I mean they must know that they will be appealed and thus cost the tax payer monies in terms of legal fees.
Either give the max permissable by law or amend the legislation so that the 25 year max stipulation is increased.
It’s not difficult. Someone appealed a sentence, it went to Privy Council and they decided that 25 was the max for pre-meditated murder so those that got more appealed and have been….and will be…successful…based on the superior court’s ruling.
If they had to foot the bill they would stop, real fast. No accountability for those in authority as usual.
HANG ALL MURDERERSS!
Keep them fenced in for as long as possible !
HANGING IS NOT OFF THE BOOKS Y DONT THEY HANG ALL MURDERERS.
Yeah, especially this one.
To those who agree that murderers should be hung, you’re thinking the same way as these MURDERERS, so in this case two wrongs make a right? What & who gave US the right to take the lives of them… Smh, like Mr.Crockwell said, “I gave you life. I didn’t give you life to take life.” The lord is more than capable.. let Jah handle these situations.. RIP Shak
when I see your lord or whatever you believe in doing something then I’ll believe in what you say..until then..HANG THESE MURDERERS!
It doesn’t make a difference how many years they get ! There will always be some waiting to get them when they get out ! Live by the sword die by the sword! So they better enjoy the time they have in prison cause when they get out they will turn up dead .it will only be a matter of time ! Just saying
He won’t be “smiling” like that for very long!!! 25 yrs is a long time – especially when you are locked-in-a-cage with NO freedoms!!!
What goes around – comes around!!
until the government/police/governor or the queen say its ok to hang again in Bermuda their will be more senseless killings. Prison is to east for some of these guys and they just don’t care.
wipe this trash from the earth…