Cyril Darville

Case record: Cyril Darville

Background

Cyril Darville was convicted for a murder committed in 1990. He had a prior record that included armed robbery and possession of a firearm. Darville had been described as an accused serial killer.

The offence

Cyril Darville was convicted for the 1990 murder of Anthony Feaste. Darville was given the mandatory death penalty after a jury convicted him of Feaste’s murder in August 1992.

Anthony Feaste was 27 years old. Feaste was described as a hacker or an unlicensed taxi driver. He was last seen alive on March 10, 1990. His body was found on a track road off Gladstone Road on March 17, 1990.

Darville was charged with the murders of eight other hackers, but he was only tried for Feaste’s murder.

Investigation

A death warrant was read to Darville in 1996.

Arrest

No arrest details were provided.

Trial

In August 1992, a jury convicted Cyril Darville of Anthony Feaste’s murder. Darville received the mandatory death sentence on August 13, 1992.

Authorities stated that the execution was stayed in 1996 on the grounds that Darville was insane.

Sentencing

Cyril Darville was sentenced to death on August 13, 1992.

The death sentence was commuted to life in 1997 by the Prerogative of Mercy.

Appeals

In 2006, the Privy Council ruled that the mandatory death sentence was unconstitutional. The ruling invalidated the sentences imposed upon murder convicts prior to the decision.

Outcome

In 2013, Cyril Darville appeared before Senior Justice Jon Isaacs for resentencing.

Cyril Darville apologized to God, his victim’s family, his family and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas when he appeared before Senior Justice Jon Isaacs to be resentenced for the 1990 murder of Anthony Feaste.

At the resentencing hearing:

• Probation officer Janice McKenzie said Darville expressed remorse for his crime.
• McKenzie said prison guards gave glowing reports of Darville’s progress in prison, but she suggested he could be hiding his true character from the guards as he had hidden his crimes from his family and coworkers.
• Senior Justice Jon Isaacs said he agreed with McKenzie’s assessment.
• Isaacs said Darville’s previous convictions for armed robbery and possession of a firearm showed he had a “propensity for weaponry” as Feaste “had been dispatched with a firearm”.
• Isaacs stated: “Your previous convictions did nothing to deter you from the path at which you had set your feet — that of criminality. You’ve had your second chance.”

Isaacs sentenced Darville to 55 years to take effect from the date of his conviction.

Darville’s lawyer, Dorsey McPhee, asked the court to impose an additional five years in prison.

The prosecutor, Koschina Marshall, said a sentencing range of 30 to 60 years was appropriate.

On August 21, 2013, Isaacs adjourned the matter to September 3, the day after Darville’s 51st birthday.

On September 4, 2013, Darville was re-sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Timeline

• March 10, 1990 — Anthony Feaste was last seen alive.
• March 17, 1990 — Anthony Feaste’s body was found on a track road off Gladstone Road.
• August 13, 1992 — Cyril Darville was sentenced to death for the 1990 murder of Anthony Feaste.
• 1996 — A death warrant was read to Cyril Darville; his execution was stayed on the grounds that he was insane.
• 1997 — The death sentence was commuted to life by the Prerogative of Mercy.
• 2006 — The Privy Council ruled that the mandatory death sentence was unconstitutional.
• August 21, 2013 — Cyril Darville appeared before a Supreme Court judge to be resentenced; the matter was adjourned to September 3.
• September 4, 2013 — Cyril Darville was re-sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Other details

Cyril Darville was described as a former butcher at City Market.

Cyril Darville was 51 at the time of resentencing.