
Double murder convict Steadroy McDougal walked away from the High Court of Justice in Antigua and Barbuda right back into society after 24 years behind bars. CLICK HERE TO JOIN WHATS APP GROUP
On the 10th of, October 2000, McDougal was found guilty of the murder of his ex-lover Louise Torrens, 24, and her new boyfriend,Mitchell Melins, 22, on Christmas Day 1998.
He was sentenced to what was then regarded as the only possible sentence, a sentence of death.
Early on the morning of Christmas day 1998, a fire was started at the Navigator Apartments in English Bay, St Paul’s Antigua.
Two bodies were later discovered in adjoining apartments, each on the respective beds of those apartments.
It was revealed that these persons had been beaten with a hammer before the fire was started.
One died of the injuries before the fire. The other died from the injuries and the effects of the fire.
Investigations led to the arrest of the defendant who in a written statement denied this offence.

Shortly after he admitted in an oral statement to setting fire to the bodies and the building but at the trial denied ever making this statement.
The prosecution’s case was that he had been involved in a stormy relationship with the deceased Torrens for several months.
She had broken off this relationship and evidence showed that the defendant who had been violent to her stalked her and was seen during Christmas Eve’s night at one of the places where the deceased Torrens and the deceased Melius and a friend were spending time.
The three of them were ‘bar crawling’ that night and much of it was spent consoling the deceased Torrens who was crying on and off that night over her relationship with the defendant. It appeared that the deceased Torrent was very friendly with Melius who she had met after she broke up with the defendant.
The defendant initially effectively told the police that he was nowhere near English Harbour but was in town liming.
The judge at McDougal’s trial in 2000 told him he had been convicted on overwhelming circumstantial evidence.
Jurors believed that he committed the heinous crime after a string of witnesses painted a picture of him as a jealous control freak who battered the woman and left her terrified.
Upon his conviction and sentence of death, he was placed in maximum security in the prison.
No steps were ever taken to execute the defendant, but he spent some 15 years in maximum security partly because of his general behaviour and the fact that he had escaped once in 2002.
Just in 2015, an assessment was made by the incoming superintendent of prisons that his risk level had been reduced and he was placed in the general population.
In 2014, the State filed proceedings to regularise his status in prison and the His Lordship Justice Cottle declared that the original sentence of death was unconstitutional and was accordingly quashed.
It was also ordered that he be re-sentenced for the crime.
His is a re-sentencing exercise commenced on the 19th of September 2016. At the end of the hearing, a sentence of life imprisonment with a review after 35 years in accordance with section 3B of the Offences against the Persons Act, Cap 300, was considered in all of the circumstances of this case to be the appropriate sentence with regards to the defendant.
McDougals review date came in February this year when the prison discounted ⅓ off his sentence as typically done for convicts.
Today, Justice Colin Williams heard from Acting Superintendent of Prison Jermaine Anthony who testified to the defendants positive development.
The Judge expected to hear from other character witnesses but the prosecution said they were unable to get in contact with any others.
McDougal’s lawyer Wendel Robinson asked the Judge to rule today because “the order of the court should have been obeyed…especially where the freedom of a prisoner weighs in the balance.”
And since the date for the review hearing was set since last November, Justice Williams proceeded to free the murderer since he heard no reason as to why he should remain behind bars.
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Is any counseling & social services support offered to long term offenders upon their release from incarceration?
Are skills training programs available either in HMP and/or upon release?
Antigua & the world has changed in 25-years and society needs to give Mr McDougal and others the best chance at positive integration and an honest, worthy life.
But murdering two people in cold blood….???
“Justice Williams proceeded to free the murderer since he heard no reason as to why he should remain behind bars.”
How about double murder JUDGE?
Yup!
All the best to you in becoming a productive member of society
@ Positive Vibes ; All the best to him ?
What about all to the best to the two families that are punished again .
All the best to the two people he hammered.
All the best to the two people he burned with one still alive.
And while you’re at it, all the best to the public because THE BEAST WILL RISE AND STRIKE AGAIN.⌛🔪
Jezuz take the wheel. Mark my words that type of EVIL is incurable: hammer fire premeditated
Time only helps pure evil to conceal itself better
Ladies beware
Justice is forever lost in this country
My prayer,is that he does not kill again. I have seen persons released from Prisons and end up committing heinous crime while out. Liberal Judges,making Liberal Decisions.
Wow! A Tiger next?
These judges do not seem to care about the families of the victims and the society that must deal with someone like that being released in their midst. This was a premeditated double murder. Not an accident. Mr. Judge you cannot be that removed from our society. Will he be able to find a job, to sustain himself? Where will he live? Has his family signed off that they take responsibility for him? In the prison you do not have to worry about where the next plate of food is coming from or a roof over your head. A person who from one day to another will be faced with these types of responsibilities, will have to be properly prepared. If not he/she may result to crime again.
Don’t worry about all that. If he sees you and asks you for money you will give him as you are afraid to say no. People know that this is not a guy that they would want hungry. Women will be afraid to say no. Society will ensure that is well taken care of.
Welcome back Dougy! You’re free to do what you want in society now. Don’t worry about people talking, that is all they would do, they don’t have the balls to watch you in the eye. You beat the system and could beat it again.
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