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'I didn't want her to die'
Published on: 2/4/2010.
HE DID NOT WANT teenager Anna Druzhinina to die, said self-confessed manslayer Christopher Omar McCollin.
But there was nothing he could do, he told the No. 4 Supreme Court yesterday.
"I felt bad because I did what he [the man who had been charged with him] told me to do. I could not believe that such a crime had been perpetrated in front of me. I could not believe that she was dead. It really hurt me and I really wanted to take my own life 'cause I could not handle it," the killer said.
"In no way I wanted her to die. I tried my best to prevent it but I couldn't do anything about it. I also feared for my life but I saw the anger go through him. I tried my best," McCollin told the court.
He said after the incident he became depressed because he "couldn't believe what had happened on November 8, 2008".
The 27 year-old of Vineyard Tenantry, St Philip, had just pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing the 16-year-old girl on November 8, 2008. He had originally been charged with murder but had denied that charge.
Andrew Pilgrim, who represented McCollin, said the first-time offender's statement indicated he was acting under the guidance of his co-accused.
"It was manifestly clear that he had no intention to kill," Pilgrim said, as he asked for a pre-sentencing report.
Justice Randall Worrell granted Pilgrim's request and adjourned sentencing until February 26.
Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock, QC, who appeared with Principal Crown Counsel Alliston Seale and Crown Counsel Elwood Watts, told the court Druzhinina lived with her mother and stepfather at Palmers Plantation, St John.
The stepfather John Jackson had an issue with McCollin's co-accused, who at one time had been his employee, and Jackson had been charged for shooting that man.
As a result, that man procured the company of McCollin, who did not know the Jackson family, with the intention of exacting revenge and robbery.
The two agreed to meet near a church, from where they walked along a water course that led to Palmers Plantation.
They scouted the plantation, waiting until the gardener was away and entered the house. McCollin was wearing a mask.
Druzhinina was home alone when the two entered. They seized her, bound her hands and feet as she screamed and pleaded for her life.
The other man placed a wire around Druzhinina, threw the end over a rafter and placed her to stand on two plastic containers on the top of the stairs.
The two then remained at the house, waiting for the girl's stepfather to arrive.
However, by the time the girl's parents arrived home, the house was on fire and the men were gone.
The stepfather rushed in and found the motionless body of the girl on a bed.
Police and fire officials arrived. An autopsy revealed that Druzhinina died from ligature strangulation.
McCollin was subsequently picked up and confessed in a written statement.
22 comment found!
getting caught : 2/5/2010
What this guy is really saying is he did not mean to get caught. I believe the death sentence CARRIED out IS a deterrent - start using it again.
Murder! Murder! : 2/4/2010
Now that it is their life at stake their would say anything thing to save it. Clearly without a doubt premedicated murder ,they should be sentence to be hang upside down.What that poor child must have went through , no fault of her own whatsoever.
Concern
This is a child : 2/4/2010
It is about time the laws meet up with the times. Two men murdered a child, and that's the verdict!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what world are we living in.
simply a citizen... : 2/4/2010
"Offences Against the Person Act"
SO all murderers now go free cause they really went to rob the victim!! SO change the dang law!!!! Act!!! wjatever it is and fast!!!
How embarrassing to be part of a legal system that does not work... even sadder a system that will never change, as the only ones benfitting are the lawyers, and it is they who need to change the said system.
They get paid well, and usually in advance, yet you have to beg them to do their job, they don't take your calls so you have to camp out in their office to speak to them as they pass through reception!!
You go to court and they often don't turn up, or they are not prepared, so the case is adjouned, another day you miss work, and you lose income, and your health from the stress... and the lawyers - well you still have to find the $$ to pay them.... as I said the only winners in our legal system is the lawyers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shame on them all, in what is supposed to be - or used to be an honourable profession... change this law and change it fast...
No matter what the Bajan lawyers / judges sentence - they are really giving these criminals death sentences...
You dont think the day that man that killed the canadian woman on long beach is realeased that someone wont be waiting for him???
Likewise with these men, the majority of bajans are horrified by this crime against an innocent child - I wouldn't be suprised if ill fate befell them later rather than sooner....
Bring back the cat of 9 and stop all this human rights crap for the criminals and try some for the victims - what do they deserve from society our learned lawyers??????
The best lawyers work for the criminals - why??? Could it be because they pay teh most $$$????
At the end of the day I am simply a citizen who if ever in a 'situation' would only ever be the victim, as I could never ever be the CRIMINAL - was not engineered that way.....
A dead death penalty : 2/4/2010
1. @ Gabrielle, I have read nothing which usggest that these men went to this house with robbery in mind. My understanding is that they went there with a much more serious and vicious plan.
2. Most won't agree with me, but perhaps John Jackson had good reason to shoot that s.o.b in the first place.
3. I often ponder on the state of mind and future functionality of attorneys like Mr Pilgrim if he were to walk in one day and find his wife or daughter in similar situation to this victim, at the hands of those he so strenously seek to defend.
4. This matter is disturbing beyond comprehension and if ever there was a case deserving of the death penalty, it's this one. Here's a dead victim and so seems the death penalty. We have to understand the implications and reality of 'jungle justice' that is now invading us and destroy it before it overpowers us (like the african snails)Non Functus
Both of them ! Guilty : 2/4/2010
This is always the story, one guy talking on the other ,accusing the other of murder. Birds of a feather flock together, both of them should received the same sentence Death by hanging ,Amen,
: 2/4/2010
So we are now discussing cases in the media while they are ongoing? Any one of us reading or blogging could be a member of the jury on this case.
hang them high : 2/4/2010
this a man not a child he knew full well what going done he do the crime now let do the time. he had all time to runaway and get help to save this innocence girl live iam sure he have a gouny sister or young teens in his family that is girls .and must say i have met mr pilgrim many times when i am in bim yes he is agood lawyer why wasteyuh time this man is guilty as hell and i believe he should be hang no jailtime then it aburden on the tax payers and other familys have losts there luv one in the same manner
An Eye For An Eye! : 2/4/2010
These heartless thugs will languish in Hotel Dodds at the expense of the already extended Bajan taxpayer. Again I ask why have the death penalty if it is never carried out? The only ones who benefit are the lawyers on both sides. An eye for an eye I say.
: 2/4/2010
Life in prison at taxpayers expense is to decent for those two idiots. Just what they did to the innocent child, should be done to them. Wrap wire around them,then tie them to the rafters pour some gasolene on them and draw a match, let their relative come and find them burning, see how they feel. Attorney's! Sorry, Could not represent either one of them.
CO-ACCUSED CONFESSES : 2/4/2010
THE PROSECUTION agreed it not murder,in their own words "Regrettably, she died after having slipping off, which as regard the culpability of the accused, in as much as it might not show the specific intent to kill, it certainly shows recklessness and, at its highest, a rather depraved indifference for human life," Leacock said.Mr Prosecutor the victim was not the one whom placed the wire around her neck!this resulting in her slipping??????
Murder : 2/4/2010
This is Murder,reasons it was premedicated.Both accused had the time to place a wire around the child neck etc.One should ask oneself if u enter a home illegally to commit a crime,u then murder someone & ur excuse is I didn't meant to kill the child.The verdict is guilty of captial murder,the didn't show the victim compassion,also the didn't show no remorse whatever for their crime.If u do the crime u will do the Time.
I didn,t want her to die : 2/4/2010
The lawyer who represented these felons have the Almighty God to answer to.I pray that the accused will ask God for forgiveness.
Not guilty!!!
sentencing : 2/4/2010
This man doesn't seem to realise that co-accused should get the same sentence as the primary offender unless he can prove some sort of diminished capacity. He really should get life...times 20.
Feel for the family : 2/4/2010
A fool is a funny thing to deal with.Mc Collin
ANNA DRUZHININA : 2/4/2010
I feel for lawyers who have to try these cases, let the victim be their loved one, first time offender or not they COULD NOT decipher how someone could be caught up in such a horrific crime. The innocent one here is the young girl who had her whole life ahead of her. She had no part in the tension between her stepfather and the two accused. I am sure where it might be true that McCollin did not mean for the victim to die, she DID die. He does not know right from wrong! He should not have been there in the first place. I suppose he has to pay for his actions now. He did the crime so let him to do the time!!!!
BAJAN ALL THE WAY!
Become a Prosecutor : 2/4/2010
I find that it really is a real waste of talent that someone of Andrew Pilgrim's intelligence and legal skill spends his time defending people like this. I appreciate everyone has the right under law to have legal counsel. But,someone correct me if I am wrong, but the majority of Barbados's murder cases are 'cut and dry' and you have very few instances of people being wrongly accused/convicted. Become a prosecutor Pilly, so that you can exact whuppaxx on all the crime and violence in this country!
: 2/4/2010
Hang em high! Another two to go down! Is there a vacancy for a 'Hangman'?
: 2/4/2010
Why he did not have the judgement to act under the guidance of God and his conscience?
Maybe he does not know that any of the two exists.
hang him : 2/4/2010
They should hang them both if they are found guilty for murder instantly
Fool! : 2/4/2010
What nonsense !Anytime you enter a house or place that is not yours with intent to rob anything could happen .He had no mind for himself when he could go along with someone to commit a crime . This fool should be put away for the rest of his natural life . Hanging too good for him .What had the disagreement to do with him ?The time they met by the church they should have stood outside and call upon the Lord even if they did not know how to pray .The situation might have been different . Fools pay for their folly. First time or not .
: 2/4/2010
These details are absolutely devastating! May the Lord have mercy on all their souls!!!
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