Trek of death

A Portland aspiring nurse and poultry farmer who walked miles in almost pitch-black darkness to stab a female German national 35 times in an apparent love triangle has been sentenced to life in prison.

Sherone Campbell, who celebrated her 41st birthday last month behind bars, will have to serve 20 years and five months before she is considered for parole for the murder of 49-year-old Ute Soetebier. She was convicted in the Portland Circuit Court in June.

The victim, who had immigrated to Jamaica, was murdered at her home in Park Mount, Portland, on January 14, 2014.

In sealing Campbell’s fate on Friday, Justice Vaughn Smith said he believed the sentence was most appropriate, considering the distance Campbell had walked in the darkness to get to Soetebier.

“The fact that she walked all this way, armed with this knife, the fact that she invaded the premises of the deceased and stabbed her multiple times, … more than 30 stabs, this court is of the view a sentence of life imprisonment is appropriate ... ,” he said.

The short, medium-built convict, who was dressed in a blue denim pants and a blouse, appeared upset at the sentence.

Campbell, the court heard, was jealous over a cohabiting relationship that her 38-year-old boyfriend Tyrone Nugent was having with the victim.

From the victim’s impact report prepared by the deceased’s brother, the court heard that Soetebier sold her travel agency in Munich, Germany, and moved to Jamaica as she felt she could not cope there.

As far as her family knew, she was happy in the country and no one expected her to be killed.

Her death has not only caused shock and grief among her family, but her father’s health has started to deteriorate, the court was also told.

Soetebier’s family asked that Campbell be punished with the maximum penalty.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Syleen O’Gilvie led evidence during the trial that Campbell and Nugent had been together since 2011. But during the relationship, Nugent went to live with Soetebier while still maintaining an intimate relationship with Campbell.

The deceased’s blood was found on the blouse that the accused was wearing at the time of the incident.

Campbell, however, while admitting to the police that she was at the woman’s house and that she was asked to leave, denied murdering the German woman.

But while also taking ownership of the murder weapon, she claimed it was her boyfriend who had stabbed and killed the woman.

Nugent had reported that he was the one who had found the deceased covered in blood outside their house, on his arrival.

He was initially charged with murder and misprision of felony but was freed after the judge upheld a no-case submission.

On Friday, attorney-at-law Michael Jordan begged the judge to use whatever he could find in Campbell’s favour to give her a reasonable sentence.

He pointed to her “impeccable social enquiry report”, in which she was hailed by residents of her community as being a positive influence and described as a cheerful and polite churchgoer, who was always extending invitation to others to attend church.

Jordan also mentioned her good antecedents, noting that she had no previous conviction and was never involved in any criminal activity.

“She has always been a productive member of the society,” the lawyer said, while highlighting that Campbell had started pursuing nursing and during the trial was on her final exams.

At the same time, he said: “I cannot escape the fact this was a very gruesome crime and would have a significant impact on all those involved, but she is not someone who is beyond rehabilitation. She still has much to contribute to society.”

Justice Smith, however, while agreeing that Campbell had a fairly good social enquiry report and antecedents, said he was concerned that she has not accepted her action and is still maintaining that she was framed.

Jordan, in his reply, explained that his client was still in “great shock” at her conviction and, over time, will come to accept her action.

The judge also considered her good family background and her self-employment as mitigating factors. However, he noted that the fact that the crime was premeditated and that she had tried to conceal evidence were aggravated factors, along with the lack of remorse.

Noting that his starting point for the pre-parole sentence was 18 years, having considered the submission and other factors, the judge added six years for the aggravating factors, but reduced the sentence by three years for the mitigating factors. Campbell was then credited seven months for time spent in custody, which resulted in her receiving 20 years and five months as the pre-parole sentence.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com