Victim's family shocked as wife-killer walks free 8 years into 67-yr sentence after court loses trial transcript
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GRENADA, CARIBBEAN: A man named Alexander Clack, who was arrested over the killing of his wife Nixiann Downes-Clack in 2014 and who was serving a 67-year prison sentence, has walked free with no charge and is heading home to UK because of a legal loophole. This happened due to the disappearance of a computer at the Supreme Court Registry, which resulted in the early release of the convicted murderer.
Alexander, now 40, strangled Nixiann Downes, a mother of one, when she threatened to leave him after she found out about his affair with the couple’s 17-year-old babysitter. Following this, the former prison officer from London killed Nixiann Downes on their fourth wedding anniversary in June 2014. He buried the body in a suitcase which was found in a shallow grave a few days later. In 2016, he got jailed after Grenada High Court chief judge Justice Paula Gilford sent him to prison for life with a fixed term of 67 years and six months, reports Daily Mail.
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However now, the Court of Appeal ordered the release of the convicted on September 20 as the case couldn’t proceed due to the unavailability of court transcripts. Commenting on it Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Senator Claudette Joseph, said during the post-Cabinet press briefing in St George on September 27, “From all indications, the computer on which the recording would have been typed…cannot be found at this time, and that will contain the critical parts of the proceedings. As a consequence, it (the breakdown in the judiciary) seriously impacts and infringes an accused person’s right to a fair trial and a hearing…and, the state cannot be derelict, and negligent, and reckless such as they are…” quotes TheNewTodayGrenada.
Nixiann Downes' aunt Kim Szmyglewska, 45, told The Sun, “I’m horrified. How could they release someone on such a flimsy technicality when he is guilty of such evil and clearly a danger to women. Now he’s got away with murder and is heading this way.” One of Alexander's ex-pal of Clack said, “This decision defies belief. Even before the murder he had been involved in domestic violence involving calls to the police.” On the other hand, Alexander's lawyer Anselm Clouden told, “Mr Clack was overjoyed but is a typically reserved Englishman. He may have celebrated with a glass of port. I understand the British High Commission assisted in arrangements to fly him home.”