December 20, 2000
Relatives cheer as bank teller’s killer jailed
No parole for 25 years
Nancy Kidd shot in the neck during robbery at TD bank last year
Desmond Brown
National Post
A 22- year- old man has been found guilty of first- degree murder in the fatal shooting of a bank employee.
A jury of sic men and six women took five hours to find Marlon Rowe guilty of killing Nancy Kidd, 44, in a robbery at the Toronto Dominion Bank in Sandalwood Plaza, Brampton, on January 11, 1999.
“All of us died when he pulled that trigger,” said Amanda Pinot, Mrs. Kidd’s niece.
: when he dies, I hope God sends him down to Hell,” she said outside the courthouse.
Mrs. Kidd, the mother of two grown children, was shot in the neck as she lay on the floor during the heist in which the all- female staff were beaton, pistol whipped and verbally abused by four masked men.
About 30 family members and colleagues of Mrs. Kidd cheered, then sobbed, after the jury foreman announced the verdict at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Rowe, wearing a grey suit with a black turtleneck sweater, stood with his hands in his pockets and legs shackled as Mr. Justice Ron Thomas sentenced him yo life in prison without the chance of parole for 25 years.
Bill Herman, Mrs. Kidd’s brother- in- law, said his family will do what they can to pressure the National Parole Board into making sure Rowe never leaves prison.
We know in 25 years he will be up for parole, which is kind of ironic because combined with the age he is now, that will be roughly the same age as Nancy was when she was killed,” said Mr. Herman, struggling to hold back tears.
David Midanik, Rowe’s lawyer, told the jury the shooting of Mrs. Kidd was accidental and a verdict of manslaughter was warranted. The jury were unaware that, one day before Rowe’s trial began on November 14, his accomplice Dain Campbell, 18, pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
As part of the plea bargain, the Crown has already recommended Campbell to be released at his first eligible date, in eight years, so he can be deported to his native Jamaica, said Gary Batasar, his lawyer.
By going back to Jamaica, Campbell will avoid prosecution where he faces 30 years in prison for his alleged participation in armoured car and bank heists, and automobile thefts.
In an agreed statement of facts, Campbell said that during the Brampton bank heist, he and his accomplices were prepared to shoot and pistol- whip employees.
Cambell also said that after Mrs. Kidd was shot, he dragged another female employee from the teller’s counter into the vault and admitted she could have been the next fatality of she did not comply with their demands.
The court heard that more than $20,000 was taken during the robbery, but a source said the amount was closer to $60,000.
Rowe and Campbell were members of a gang dubbed the Van Bandits, who were responsible for 20 similar, terrorist- style bank robberies over 14 months in the Toronto and Peel regions.
In an unusual twist, Rhyll Carty, 53, a self- proclaimed psychic who admitted on the witness stand that he knew in advance about the robbery, may be eligible for the $200,000 reward offered by the Canadian Bankers Association for the arrest and conviction of those involved in Mrs. Kidd’s death.
Mr. Carty, who was given immunity for his testimony, said Rowe visited him for spiritual protection before and after the fatal bank robbery.
Mr. Carty then collaborated with police to have Rowe confess to the robbery and shooting while being recorded by a hidden camera.
Gene McLean, director of security for the Canadian Bankers Association, said before the reward can be given, Mr. Carty’s eligibility must be assessed with Peel Police.
Two other suspects, Dwain Lawes and a man known as Brownman, remain at large.