GUILTY

Patrick Lovelace has been found guilty of the murder of Lokeisha Nanton.

A 12-member jury arrived at the unanimous verdict Monday afternoon. They found the 36-year-old Argyle resident guilty for the 12-year-old pannist’s death. {{more}}This case shocked the nation in July 2002 after Lokeisha’s nude body was found hanging from a mango tree near the public road, leading to Cane Garden.

The jury retired for deliberation at 10:48 a.m. and returned at 1:40 p.m.

Following the guilty verdict, acting Director of Public Prosecutions Colin Williams reiterated his intention to seek the death penalty for the convicted murderer. He then applied for a date to be set by the High Court for hearing of arguments at the sentencing phase.

Williams said he had written to Lovelace’s lawyers in September stating his intention, once the accused was convicted. He said he was pursuing the death penalty because the crime was “extremely heinous and depraved” and was committed in pursuance of another crime – rape.

Justice Louise Blenman ordered that social inquiry and psychiatric evaluation reports be done and presented to the court by January 24, next year. She set sentencing for the first sitting of the February 2005 criminal assizes.

Bayliss Frederick and his daughter, lawyer Vynnette Frederick, represented Lovelace.