Murderer stabbed estranged girlfriend through the heart
A man who stabbed his estranged girlfriend to death is facing a life sentence after pleading guilty to murder.Jermaine Pearman, 37, attacked 23-year-old Shakeya DeRoza at her home on Paynter Lane, Sandys, on the afternoon of July 10, 2009.He slit her throat, cut her jugular vein and stabbed her in the heart.Ms DeRoza, a prison officer and mother-of-two, ran for help from nearby stores but died on Middle Road before she got there.Pearman was arrested on the Railway Trail behind Somerset Bridge in Sandys later that afternoon. He was armed with a knife and suffering from a self-inflicted neck wound.Officers spent an hour-and-a-half negotiating with him before he gave himself up and was taken to hospital.Pearman, of no fixed abode, was charged five days later with premeditated murder and knife possession.His trial was due to begin yesterday, but he pleaded guilty to murder just before prosecutors were due to open the case. Pearman continued to deny that the killing was premeditated and to deny the knife charge.Prosecutors accepted his pleas, but did not give any information about the circumstances of the killing.The crime will be fully outlined when Pearman is sentenced on Friday, but The Royal Gazette understands there was a history of domestic violence in the relationship prior to Ms DeRoza's death.Pearman also has a history of previous convictions and spells in prison including:l 1990: Convicted of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl aged 14 to 16 and handed a 12-month conditional discharge;l 1991: Convicted of violently resisting arrest and assault with intent to cause bodily harm and given community service. Also convicted that year for obstructing police, and fined $75.l 1993: Convicted of obstructing police, and fined.l 1999: Convicted of sexual assault and stalking and jailed for 18 months.l 2004: Convicted of possessing drugs with intent to supply and jailed for 18 months.Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves remanded Pearman into custody until he's sentenced for killing Ms DeRoza.Her family declined to comment after the hearing. The victim attended Warwick Academy, Southampton Glebe Primary and First Church of God nursery. She has a young son and daughter, both aged under five, who are now being cared for by her mother, Judy.The family set up a tribute website to Ms DeRoza in the aftermath of the killing, which has since been taken down. Her mother wrote at the time: “To our loving family and friends, we are still reeling from the devastating loss of our beloved Shakeya. It all seems so unreal.”The family was supported yesterday by staff from the police, the DPP Witness Care Unit and the Centre Against Abuse.
Jermaine Pearman's admission that he murdered prison officer Shakeya DeRoza prompted relief from her colleagues but now they face caring for him during his life sentence.Pearman, 37, has been on remand at Westgate since he was charged with stabbing 2
3-year-old
Ms DeRoza to death in July 2009.His last-minute guilty plea yesterday [see main story] meant his trial slated to last a month did not have to proceed. Some of the Corrections officers who knew Ms DeRoza had been warned they might have to give evidence.Craig Clarke, chairman of the Prison Officers Association, said: “That would have been traumatic. The staff of the Corrections facilities are all delighted about it as far as [avoiding] the emotional trauma of hearing the evidence. It puts everyone at ease. I'm sure most people in the department are happy he did the right thing and admitted to the crime.”Ms DeRoza worked with female prisoners at the Co-Ed facility in Ferry Reach, and Mr Clarke said she was “very conscientious” about her job. He added that the prison staff have become close to her children, a young boy and girl who are now being cared for by her mother.“Hopefully this gives some closure to the family and to this ordeal,” he said. “She was a beautiful person and a beautiful spirit. Hopefully her family and kids can move on. My heart goes out to her family.”As for dealing with Pearman during his prison sentence, which will be meted out on Friday, Mr Clarke said: “Hopefully he will get the counselling he needs. We will still have to deal with him but our officers are always very professional.“Mr Pearman has been in custody for the last 18 months and we have treated him with empathy. That's our job, we are trained to show empathy and do our jobs.”He added: “The healing process will start beginning. Everyone in life deserves a second chance and he will spend the rest of his life in jail.”Commissioner of Corrections Edward Lamb said: “The news that Pearman pleaded guilty to the murder of Officer DeRoza was a relief for me personally, and for the whole Corrections Department. It has always been our hope that Ms DeRoza's family would be spared the ordeal of going to trial as we have already watched them endure enough tribulation.“Ms DeRoza was a fine officer and we are still grappling with her untimely and tragic death. We continue to keep her memory alive by way of a beautiful memorial in one of our facilities as well as through regular contact with her lovely family.“Now that the legal matter is over, her family can focus their energy on raising her adorable children, to whom we in Corrections have become very attached and dedicated.“Our staff have regular fundraisers for them. Also, several of us maintain very close and regular contact with them and we are determined to continue to do so.”
