Andre Hypolite is today beginning a life sentence for murdering Nicholas Dill in what a judge described as a "brutal and merciless" crime.

He was convicted of the killing on Friday, following a three-week retrial at the Supreme Court.

The jury heard how Hypolite went on the attack with a knife amid a drug-fuelled sex party at the victim's Warwick home on Boxing Day 2004.

He chopped Mr. Dill's girlfriend, Stacey Pike, in the head as she tried to defend him, leaving her with a permanent scar to her forehead.

That saw him further convicted of unlawful wounding and given an additional three year sentence, to run concurrently.

Ms Pike, 37, said as she left Supreme Court: "I'm glad it's over. It's been awful. I hope I never have to go through it ever again."

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons said of the gruesome crime: "The attack on Mr. Dill, a naked man, was brutal and merciless. The attack on Ms Pike showed wanton disregard for her safety."

The mandatory life sentence for murder means Hypolite must spend at least 15 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole.

The sentencing hearing heard from Detective Constable Don DeSilva that Hypolite has a lengthy history of previous convictions including assaulting a female, invading her privacy and unlawfully entering a house in 1991.

According to Hypolite's lawyer, John Perry QC, the woman in question was his then girlfriend.

Just six days before killing 44-year-old Mr. Dill, Hypolite was convicted for wilfully damaging the property of another woman, his ex girlfriend Lisa Caines.

Ms Pike provided the court with a statement detailing the impact of the crime, but it was not read in open court.

However, this newspaper reported her telling a judge after Hypolite's first trial and conviction: "Although I have pretty much made a recovery physically, the emotional impact has been draining and depressing. I don't think I will ever be able to forget what happened that day."

Hypolite was originally convicted of murder and of wounding Ms Pike with intent to do her grievous bodily harm in 2006.

Those verdicts were quashed by the Court of Appeal last November, which ruled that Hypolite's defence claims were not fully put to the jury.

Senior Crown Counsel Paula Tyndale pointed out this meant Ms Pike had to "re-live that trauma during the second trial" and also re-live an event 17 years ago where she stabbed a man to death – on the witness stand.

Mrs. Justice Simmons asked for Hypolite to be given education and counselling while he is in prison.

He has been behind bars since he was arrested on December 29 2004 after an Island-wide manhunt, and this time in custody will count towards yesterday's minimum sentence.

Although parole may be considered after 15 years, the life term could be indefinite.