The Nassau Guardian
Murderer released after 27 years
A former policeman sentenced to death for the murder of 18-year-old Sherise Small was released from prison yesterday during a resentencing hearing.
Senior Justice Jon Isaacs balanced the scales of justice when he sentenced Dwight Henfield to time served as his fellow convicts Garnet Jones and Dereck Rolle, a former defence force marine, were freed on resentencing in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Henfield, 48, spent 27 years in prison for the 1987 shooting death of Small, whom prosecutors contended was killed to cover up her rape.
Yesterday, Henfield’s attorney Sonia Timothy said the men shared “equal culpability and should get equal punishment. The others have been released and Henfield remains in prison.”
Timothy said, given the disparity, observers would “consider something is wrong with the administration of justice”.
She noted that Henfield had no previous convictions and he was remorseful about Small’s death.
Timothy pointed out that prison officials believed that Henfield was ready for release and had been rehabilitated.
In passing sentence, Isaacs told Henfield that he should have been put to death for his crime, but that sentence was no longer an option.
Following case law, Isaacs said that he would impose a similar sentence as that received by Henfield’s fellow convicts and sentenced him to 27 years with effect from July 1987.
Isaacs presided over the resentencing hearings of Jones and Rolle.
The Privy Council in 2006 struck down the mandatory death penalty, making it necessary for convicts sentenced to death prior to that decision to receive a lawful sentence.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Vernal Collie appeared for the Crown.
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