Connor gets 12 years for terrifying home invasion
(CNS): Shane Connor (44) was sentenced to twelve years in prison on Friday for his part in a crime spree that culminated in a home invasion and robbery at a Prospect house in the early morning hours of 17 June 2017. Justice Dale Palmer took the view that Connor was not the real aggressor in this crime and the brains rather than the brawn.
Taking all things into account, the judge arrived at a far shorter sentence than the 21 years given to Elmer Wright, his co-conspirator in the terrifying, violent break-in at the home of Maria and Steve Butler. However, he was given a much longer sentence than the one handed to Caine Thomas (20), the third man involved, who walked away a free man last week after he received two and a half years as a result of testifying against both Connor and Wright.
Connor denied any part in the crime and blamed a faulty investigation and corrupt police for the charges, claiming that he was in East End during the time the robbery was happening.
As the judge set down his sentencing, he spoke about Connor’s upbringing and the abuse he suffered as a child, which led to the inevitability of his criminal behaviour, and the unfortunate set of circumstances that led him back into a life of crime after straightening his life out prior to this robbery.
As he handed down the sentence, Justice Palmer described Connor as an intelligent man and wondered what he could have achieved with a different upbringing. Saying that there was still hope for Connor, he described the crime he had committed as “especially disturbing” because “people should be able to sleep peacefully in their beds”.
On the night of the robbery, the Butlers were woken up at around 4am by three armed masked men, one with a gun and another with a hammer. They were tied to chairs and threatened with sexual violence and death, before the robbers made off with goods worth tens of thousands of dollars. After the incident, the couple sold their Patrick’s Island home and left the Cayman Islands.
Thomas was arrested shortly afterwards with incriminating evidence in his car. Wright was arrested a few days later and they were both charged. Thomas went on to admit his part in the crime and gave evidence against Wright at trial. Although Connor was also arrested in the wake of the crime, he was not charged.
However, Thomas named him as the third man in open court during Wright’s trial. He later agreed to give evidence against Connor, who was then charged.
Last week Justice Roger Chapple allowed Thomas, who was only a teenager at the time of the robbery, to walk free after massively reducing his sentence for this and other crimes because he had given evidence twice against “dangerous and professional criminals” and it was important to recognise his part in securing the convictions.
- Fascinated
- Happy
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- Afraid
Waste! Lots of people are born in far worse circumstances who are productive members of society… Stop with the excuses. He has none.
George, with all due respect, this guy is a waste of air. People and the courts have to recognize that. How many more chances does he need? He’s a criminal with no other intent than being a criminal. Whatever chances this guy had for reform are long gone. Can’t put him down, and I wouldn’t anyway, but keep him down – in prison. He does not deserve any freedom.
Dear Justice Palmer, the man is 44 years old and a lifelong offender. It’s a little late to be hand-wringing over his alleged poor upbringing and bad choices. It would be more useful to consider whether a longer stay in prison would better protect the public, bring him nearer an age where his criminal energy decreases, and serve as an example to the others currently going in and out the prisons revolving door. The quoted portions of the opinion do not indicate any concern for the interests of the general public who will soon be faced once again with this man’s presence in their midst. Time for the judiciary to get serious about violent crime in Cayman.
“brains rather than brawn” so a white collar criminal now? Aren’t co-conspirators equally guilty? Appeal against sentence coming from the other guy.
He needs to go to a real prison and not Northward Hotel. Send him to the UK, that should teach him a lesson.
He will NEVER learn any lesson.
Slap on the wrist
That’s it? Will be out in 8 years or less to continue where he left off, only next time the victim(s) might not live to testify!! This $hit drives me CRAZY.
12 years – what with good behaviour, mandatory credit for breathing and the application of the revolving door policy means that he will probably be back on the streets terrorizing people by next Tuesday. Sentences here are ludicrously light.
Awfull to 12:38 that’s not nice and is definitely not ok.if you are not happy here and you are not a caymanian then maybe you should go back home to your country shame on you.
You need to open your eyes and mind
Well “shane” you have been promoted from mastermind to megamind of crime in just one horrific act. You have move up the crime ladder and next when he gets out soon because of his prison work program connections he will be promoted to full onboard terrorist.Poor shane just cant help being your true self eh?
What a load of croc! this guy is a complete menace to society and has consistently been involved with heinous acts of violence over a long period time blaming his up bring like he is a child. When is man not a man making his own decision which bare consequences for himself and others really serious issue is that he has sibling who is even worse in fact convicted of murder! Sick of hearing these excuses for these pieces of $#@!who have no place in civilized society which the have prove time after time.
Should double it… Vile individual.
Pathetic sentence. Here’s a warning to everyone online, everything you read about Cayman isn’t true.
Crime is awful here, the police will do almost nothing to help and the locals are racist and jealous.
Keep away, it’s not worth it. Pay a low tax elsewhere
I’m inclined to agree with this statement. This place is very poorly run. Too bad its my home.
Amen! Well said. Racisms is alive and well in Cayman.
Game has now changed with sky-rocketing cost of living , real estate costs & no end to the Covid travel restrictions to justify the old ‘No Income Tax’ dead horse. People are better off paying a medium to high rate of taxation somewhere else.
Then leave. We dont need you or your brigADe of followers.
I take it you’re leaving then?
I left a few months ago. Best decision I have made in years. Now have more “ net” money in my pocket due to the ridiculous costs in Cayman. The only reason I still visit this site is to keep in touch with my home of many years.
Yes !!! $12,000 a month will be leaving the Cayman economy
Racism is a new phenomena here. Most probably imported with the Johnny Come Latelies.
Racism and nationalism both come hand in hand with inequality.
The scale of wealth in some, and many others struggling makes people angry, and angry people need someone to blame. It’s far too easy for that to be exploited by politicians and others, spouting “caymanians first,
outsiders out ” bullshit rhetoric, pitching it as an us vs them fight.
Truth is, it’s 99.9% of us that should be pulling together. The english lawyer on $250k has more in common with Bobo living on his boat, than Ken Dart and his ilk.
A real group of people is to blame for how unequal and hard things are, it’s just not the ones you are lead to believe it is.