Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Convicted murderer’s appeal to go to Privy Council in London

Devon Hewey (File photograph)

A man convicted of a 2011 murder will have his case heard by the Privy Council in London next month.

Devon Hewey and Jay Dill were sentenced to life in prison in 2013 after they were found guilty by a unanimous verdict of the killing of footballer Randy Robinson.

The Court of Appeal upheld their convictions in 2016 – but Hewey has taken his case to the Privy Council, Bermuda’s final appeal court, which will decide if the Court of Appeal ruling was correct.

The case is scheduled to be heard on February 1 and 2.

Mr Robinson was shot by two men on a dark motorcycle on the night of March 31, 2011 as he walked from his home to his father’s house on Border Lane North, Devonshire.

The father of one was shot once in the heart and once in the head.

The murder was believed to be gang-related, even though Mr Robinson was not involved in gang activity.

Prosecutors in the Supreme Court argued that Dill was the gunman and Hewey had ridden the motorcycle.

No witnesses identified Dill or Hewey as the suspects but prosecutors highlighted that the defendants' DNA and gunshot residue component particles were found on motorcycles seized from the property next to Hewey's home.

Further component particles were found on clothing belonging to the defendants.

The men were found guilty of the murder and sentenced to serve at least 40 years behind bars – although the minimum term was later reduced to 25 years.

But in the Court of Appeal, Hewey and Dill objected to the evidence of gunshot residue in the case because investigators had only found the components of GSR.

Counsel for Hewey also sought to put forward new evidence in the form of an affidavit by a witness who said he saw the gunmen flee the scene of the shooting.

The witness said they could not identify the suspects and added that they knew Hewey was not involved.

But the appeal court found that the evidence was inadmissible and it was doubtful that the witness had seen the gunmen as the motorcycle he described was different from that used by the killers.

The appeal panel ruled that the convictions were safe and that there was a “compelling case” against both defendants.

It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases. As we are legally liable for any slanderous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.