Published On:Wednesday, March 17, 2010

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - TWO men were sentenced to death at the Supreme Court yesterday for the brutal murder of Police Corporal Eddison Bain.

Edwin Bauld Jr and Wilfred McPhee Jr also received custodial sentences for other related offences, including kidnapping, robbery, and stealing.

Bauld and McPhee received eight years on the kidnapping count.

Bauld was also sentenced to 12 years on each of the two robbery counts, and four years for each of the three stealing counts.

McPhee received 10 years for each of the two robbery counts, and four years for one count of stealing. All of the sentences are to run concurrently.

Last October, a Supreme Court jury found Bauld and McPhee guilty of Cpl Bain's murder. His body was discovered in a ditch near Casuarina Bridge on October 22, 2007.

Cpl Bain had been bound by his hands and feet, and a large boulder was resting on his face. The body was concealed with stones and branches.

Bauld and McPhee plotted to rob Cpl Bain. They used Bauld's girlfriend, Gahnise Campbell, to lure Bain to Island Seas beach, where the two accosted him. They robbed Bain of his ATM bank card and his vehicle. They stole a total of $4,500 from Bain's bank account.

Acting Justice Jethro Miller said the murder was "brutal and cold". He said it was intentional and carefully planned, and steps were taken to avoid detection of the body.

"Bain was hog-tied, choked, left into a hole, and discovery was virtually impossible unless by the persons who place him there," he said.

"The murder was carried out in a brutal and heinous manner when the two men pushed a 500lb boulder on the head of Corporal Bain," he said.

Bain's death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head, according to evidence at the trial.

Justice Miller also stated that the actions of both men following the killing of Bain reflected a "callous indifference" to the life of another human.

He noted that the convicts returned to a hotel room where they celebrated. He also pointed out that they also continued to steal money from Bain's account after his death.

"The stealing of money from Bain's account shows a high degree of dishonesty and greed," the judge said.

Justice Miller said the death of Corporal Bain was unnecessary because the officer never resisted or posed any danger to the men at the time.

He said the officer gave them his pin number and promised that he would not report the matter.

"I find there was no provocation to mitigate the murder and find that the convicts qualify for the imposition of the highest penalty," he said.

Justice Miller was also satisfied with the psychiatric report of Dr Nelson Clarke, who found that both men were mentally stable with no mental illnesses.

The judge said in the probation report McPhee showed remorse for what he had done, but that was outweighed by the aggravating factors of the crime.

He said Bauld maintained his innocence, blaming McPhee and accusing the police of framing him. And he said remorse was only expressed on behalf of Bauld through this attorney Brian Hanna.

Margaret Johnson and Eddison Bain Sr, the parents of Corporal Bain, were very pleased with the sentence imposed by the judge.

They were both present everyday during the trial and the sentence hearing, which were very emotional at times for Ms Johnson, who lost her only child.

"I feel great and I want to thank the Almighty God and all those who prayed for me, she said.

I also want to thank the police, the jury, prosecutor and the judge, now it is time for the government to do its job - hang," said Ms Johnson.

Mr Bain feels that justice was served. He said does not oppose capital punishment.

"I feel justified and I hope they (Bauld and McPhee) get what they deserve right now.

"I also hope that we can now rest because it has been a long and difficult road for us. It is still hard, but in time I think it would get better but it won't be easy," he said.

Edwin Bauld Sr, a police officer, and Wilfred McPhee Sr, an immigration officer, were not present for the sentencing of their sons.

Bauld's attorney Brian Hanna plans to appeal.

"It is the discretion of the court to impose the death penalty and we hope to appeal the matter as soon as possible and see if we could have a retrial as there might have been some mistakes during the trial," he said.