The daughter of murder victim Maxwell Brangman has spoken of her dismay at finding out through a newspaper that her father’s killer could be up for parole this year.

Sereana Brangman said she was at work on Saturday night when she received a call from a friend, who told her about a story in The Royal Gazette outlining that convicted killer Darronte Dill could walk free from jail as soon as this year.

The Department of Public Prosecutions is responsible for informing the family members of victims about such developments, but Ms Brangman had not been contacted.

No one from the department was available for comment by press time last night.

Dill was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 for the double murder of Mr Brangman and Fredrick Gilbert.

The Supreme Court had ordered that Dill serve at least 20 years before being eligible for parole. But after a recent Privy Council decision, the Court of Appeal found that the maximum tariff under Bermuda law was seven years because Dill was three days shy of 18 at the time of committing the crime.

“I wasn’t too impressed that I had to find out through the newspaper that this had happened,” Ms Brangman said.

“I found out Saturday night — I went to work, someone texted me to say they were sorry to hear what was going on and to keep my head up.

“I had to leave work because I got sick to my stomach.

“As the daughter of the victim, to read the paper and have to relive it all again, that hurts as well.

“I couldn’t stop crying and my daddy’s birthday is coming up soon.”

During the trial the court heard that on September 2008, Dill and an accomplice attacked Mr Brangman and Mr Gilbert as they slept in a shed in St David’s.

Dill stabbed Mr Gilbert 13 times before the victim got away and died in the sea.

He then joined an accomplice to murder former Regiment soldier Mr Brangman before setting the shed, and his body, on fire.

Dill confessed to the killings in October 2008 during a sting operation and subsequent Police interview.

But when charged in October 2008, he pleaded not guilty and tried to blame the murders on the accomplice, Roger Lightbourne Sr.

After a trial, Dill was convicted of the double murder by a unanimous verdict.

A judge can impose a minimum period of up to 15 years before a convicted murderer can apply for parole, while the tariff is seven years for those who were under 18 at the time of the offence.

There is no such tariff for those under 16.

When Dill was first sentenced in 2010, Chief Justice Richard Ground noted the previous sentencing of Ze Selassie, in which the Court of Appeal found the legislated limit was unlawful.

However, that sentencing, along with that of Jermaine Pearman, was later overturned by London’s Privy Council, who found that judges were not able to exceed the legislated limitations.

Since then, the House of Assembly has approved amendments granting judges more flexibility when setting tariffs, but no such amendments were tabled regarding the tariffs for those under the age of 18.

Speaking about the appeal, Ms Brangman said: “He got this parole due to the fact that he was only three days away from his birthday and there is something that should be done about it.

“They guaranteed me 20 years. It’s not fair.

“If I have anything to do with it he won’t come out any time soon.

“His crime was ridiculous and he’s getting seven years off.

“I can’t get my daddy back – there’s no way I can get him back and he’s getting out.

“I want to do some research to see if I can change this law.

“The only thing I’ve been told I can do is make an impact report to the Parole Board.

“I am going to do that to explain how much it has affected me and my children. It’s not been easy to deal with.”