The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

CROWN prosecutors called for the death penalty yesterday, moments after a jury unanimously convicted a man of murdering and robbing a messenger of a fast-food restaurant during his deposit run.

When prosecutor Roger Thompson requested a probation and psychiatric report be prepared for 31-year-old Angelo Rahming, Justice Carolita Bethell asked him, “For the record, what will you be seeking?”

“The Crown will be seeking the death penalty,” the prosecutor said.

However, the Eight Mile Rock native who had no reaction to the jury’s guilty verdicts concerning the murder and armed robbery of Troy Seymour, said “I don’t think a psychiatric report will be necessary. I’m not crazy.”

However, Justice Bethell corrected him. She said a report was required because of directions by the London-based Privy Council and recent amendments to Bahamian law.

Rahming faced two charges – murder and armed robbery – in this retrial concerning the November 13, 2006, fatal shooting and stabbing of Pastor Troy Seymour.

On the day in question, Seymour was held up for $11,529 belonging to Kentucky Fried Chicken shortly after picking up the deposit bag from the establishment.

While being chased, he was shot in the hip and the back. When he sought help in his grandmother’s home, he was repeatedly stabbed in the back by Rahming. Rahming was initially convicted and sentenced for the matter after attempting to change his guilty plea, claiming that he was intoxicated when the plea was entered.

He challenged the conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal in February 2012. The court ordered a retrial. The prosecution conceded that the process in determining if the plea should be accepted was unfair.

His retrial began a little more than a week ago when evidence in the case revealed that Rahming had previously worked for KFC as a landscaper. According to a worker at the franchise, he was hired through Seymour for the job.

A witness testified that while walking on BayShore Road, he saw a white KFC truck drive past him and then heard a loud bullet sound. He saw Seymour, whom he knew as a pastor, get out of the driver’s seat and run. He was pursued by a man who fired two more shots.

He saw Seymour run into a pink and white house. He was followed by the assailant, who after some time, left the building and was picked up by a Ford Taurus car.

The man went to the house and heard a woman screaming for help. She wanted someone to call for an ambulance.

Police testified that the accused, who they arrested nearly a year later in September 2007, pointed out a basketball court where he waited with a friend on a lookout for Seymour with whom he eventually caught a ride.

Rahming was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison yesterday to await sentencing.

He is scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court on January 15, 2014 for a status hearing concerning the availability of the requested reports.