BULL BAY, St Thomas – Dudley Londale, of Bull Bay in St Thomas, was this week sentenced to a life behind bars by high court judge, Mahadev Dukharan in the St Thomas Circuit Court.

Londale was one of four persons initially arrested and charged with the 2001 murder of 26 year-old Joseph Anderson. Anderson was from the Danvers Pen section of the parish.

The court was told that on July 6, 2001, Anderson was at a dance in his community when he was shot and killed by gunshots fired from a passing vehicle.

Londale and three other persons, including a woman, were arrested that same night when the vehicle in which they were travelling was stopped and searched. The police recovered a 9mm pistol containing bullets matching those used to kill Anderson.

On January 13 of this year, Londale pleaded guilty and the case against the other three persons was dropped.

He must spend at least 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Meanwhile Myrie Walker, a 28 year-old farmer of Sunning Hill in the parish was sentenced to 20 years at hard labour for the carnal abuse of a seven year-old girl.

The court was told that in June of last year, Walker lured the child to his home with an offer of mangoes. When she turned up, he took her into his room and sexually assaulted her. Walker fled the area but was captured by the police on June 27, 2003 in Wilmington where he was found playing dominoes.

Last Friday, it took a seven-member mixed jury 20 minutes to return a guilty verdict against Walker.

In handing down the sentence this week, judge Dukharan said the crime committed by Walker was “an atrocious act” and it was his responsibility “to protect young girls” from persons like Walker.