Darrel Grant Handed Life Sentence for a Second Time

Today, a man was handed a life sentence in prison with a fixed term of thirty years for the murder of thirty-nine-year-old Sandra Ruiz. He is thirty-seven-year-old Darrel Grant, who was convicted for the 2008 murder of the Belize City resident and mother of two. Reports are that Ruiz was inside her residence in Kings Park when an adult male forcibly entered her home. He then proceeded to sexually assault Ruiz before bludgeoning her to death with a hammer. At the time of the attack, Ruiz’s two young daughters were at home, a thirteen-year-old and a six-year-old. The older of the two was able to escape the building before she could be harmed, however, the younger girl was found and attacked. Fortunately, she survived but was left in a coma for several days following the incident. In 2010, Grant was found guilty and handed a life sentence, after he was found wearing Ruiz’s necklace a few days after the incident. Today, Grant appeared before the court for resentencing and was again given a life sentence. In an apology from Grant, he said, (quote), I am sorry for what I did, I was young and immature, I am sorry to her family and for the pain to my family. I am sorry for what I did. I know I can’t bring back Miss Sandra’s life, (end quote). However, Justice Nigel Pilgrim noted that as Grant was twenty-two-years-old at the time of the murder, he was at a mature enough age to be held responsible for his actions. Pilgrim also considered the impact statement from Ruiz’s family members in mitigation. Ruiz’s eldest daughter said that following the death of her mother, she had to abandon her life in Belize and live with her father in another country in fear of her life. While Ruiz’s brother stated that no time in prison would ever bring back his sister.