GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY! Another murderer headed to JAIL!

By: Jaimie Smith/ Freeport News

Freeport GB – Twenty-three-year-old, Yvener Philome was washed away in tears, yesterday, after he learned his fate following deliberations by a 12-member jury of his peers.

The South Bahamia resident’s murder trial in the Supreme Court concluded Tuesday, June 30, when the jury found him, unanimously, guilty of the March 31, 2014 shooting death of Leonardo “Yellow” Pierre.

Pierre, a resident of #43 Weddell Avenue was murdered in the early morning hours, while on Adventurer’s Way in the area commonly known as the ghetto.

Philome’s first day in court, June 22, 2015, the seven women and five men jury heard evidence from the Crown prosecutor, attorney Erica Kemp, who called 17 witnesses during the trial, including Gina Lubin and Edgar Mark Ferguson, who were in the bar where the incident took place; and Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Mandi Pedican, who performed the autopsy.

Philome entered a not guilty plea when initially charged with the murder that took place at Sonny Sport Bar, commonly known as the ‘Boom Boom Room’ in the Garden Villas area.

On June 29, the 12-member jury had the opportunity to hear from the council for both the Crown as well as the defense.

Attorney Wendell Smith represented the defendant.

On Tuesday Justice Estelle Gray-Evans disclosed to the foreman and members of the jury the details in which their deliberations should be based. She outlined in detail, the events which transpired during the eight-day trial and told the jurors what was expected of them upon retiring to deliberate.

She cautioned that they were judges of the facts and their decision must be based upon such.

During her statement, Evans reminded the jurors of all testaments made by witnesses, including those made by the defendant, Philome; as well as the victim’s father, who testified that he was at the crime scene following the death of his son as well as at the morgue, where he identified the body as that of his son, the following day.

The jury was also reminded of Pedican’s testimony, where she disclosed that Pierre’s cause of death was by multiple gunshot wounds and associated with traumatic injuries.

It was noted that Pierre was found to have five gunshot wounds to the back and one to his head.

Prior to releasing the jurors for deliberation Evans instructed them to be, “extremely careful when examining all evidence brought before the trial.”

Shortly after noon on Tuesday the jurors were allowed to deliberate on the matter. A little over an hour later they returned with the unanimous 12-0 verdict of guilty.

Dressed in a red plaid shirt, long blue jeans and black, white and red Nike tennis, Philome, exited the courtroom emotional, following the verdict.

Evans thanked the jurors for their time served on behalf of the courts.

Family members of both the victim and defendant were present for the decision.

Following the verdict, Evans dismissed the jurors and asked both the Crown and Council for the defense if there was anything either wished to add.

Smith requested that a sentencing hearing be adjourned to a later date to which Evans accepted.

Philome will appear before the courts again for a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, September 23, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.