Murder convict seeking to have life sentence overturned

Thu, Apr 19th 2012, 09:04 AM

The man convicted of the murder of Free National Movement (FNM) Cabinet Minister Charles "Chuck" Virgill appeared before the Court of Appeal yesterday in a bid to have his life sentence overturned.
Ellison Smith was originally sentenced to death for the 1997 shooting death of Virgill during his government's campaign for a second term in office.
His body was found in a well field behind the Bahamas Electricity Corporation on Soldier Road on February 15, 1997. According to the evidence, Virgill's attackers accosted him outside his condominium on West Bay Street and forced him into his car.
In 1999, Smith and Anthony Evans were sentenced to death for killing Virgill. At the time of their conviction, murderers were automatically ordered to hang.
The Privy Council found this practice unconstitutional in 2006 and all murder convicts had to be re-sentenced.
Smith was sentenced to life during a re-sentencing hearing in 2010.
His lawyer, Jairam Mangra, told the court he would be ready to argue the appeal on May 10.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads