Bahamian court rules convicted murderer’s dreadlocks can be cut

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – A High Court judge in The Bahamas has ruled that a 28-year-old murder convict does not have the right to keep his dreadlocks while serving his 35-year sentence.

Justice Dale Fitzpatrick denied the request by Franco Ferguson after his lawyer had asked the court to prevent prison officials from cutting his hair.

But the prosecutor, Rashied Edgecombe, had objected to the application since Ferguson has dreadlocks for fashion and not as part of his religion.

The former technician at Bahamas Power and Light was convicted earlier this year for the murder of the new love interest of his daughter’s mother.

Ferguson admitted to fatally stabbing Charles Demeritte on September 11, 2020, but said that he acted in self-defence. However, six of the eight jurors found that he was not justified when he stabbed Demeritte during a fight.

Edgecombe, told jurors that Ferguson had introduced a knife to a fistfight.

The court heard that on September 11, 2020, Ferguson went to the woman’s apartment at her invitation and while there, Charles Demeritte, the new boyfriend, pulled a knife on him.

Ferguson retreated to the bathroom and locked himself inside. As Demeritte tried to get in, Ferguson climbed onto the roof through the window.

He was convinced to come down after Demeritte’s knife was confiscated. But Demeritte attacked Ferguson again and put him in a headlock. During the struggle, Ferguson stabbed Demeritte in the thigh, cutting the femoral artery.

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