Klao Bell, Staff ReporterTwo life sentences and 11 years in prison, have not confined Conroy Levy's desire to find true love and become a husband and father.
With at least two years before he is due parole, Mr. Levy, an inmate of the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre (SCACC) will, in March, marry a woman who he has been corresponding with for two years.
They met at a church service where he and other inmates had gone to minister in song and drama.
"It was telepathic, we both got attracted to each other without saying much. I approached her and asked her in the most humble way if I could be her pen pal and she consented," Mr. Levy said.
When he went into prison at age 18 he was known as the "Phantom". Now, at 29 years old, standing 6ft 6 ins. tall, he resembles the American basketball star, Scottie Pippen. Dressed like an athlete in sweat pants, T-shirt and sneakers, he spoke eloquently and in a relaxed manner when interviewed by The Sunday Gleaner in the airy office of the Superintendent of the SCACC last week Tuesday.
"I want to get married because of my spiritual conviction and, at this time and age, it is the appropriate way of expressing love to each other," Mr. Levy said.
His spiritual conviction springs not only from being raised in a "disciplined, religious" home with both parents, but from what he describes as "a spiritual awakening" which took place five years ago while on death row.
Mr. Levy was given two death sentences having been found guilty for the murder of two men in 1990. Before he went to prison in 1992 he was known as one of East Kingston's most notorious gunmen.
"I was shot by a youth who I grew up with, we had an argument and that's how we expressed our differences... from that I had to continue to find ways of defending myself," said Mr. Levy, who grew up in the communities of Franklin Town and Dunkirk in East Kingston.
That seemed to trigger a series of violent and fatal incidents where one after the other he lost his three brothers. Their deaths, he said, distorted his outlook on life and caused him to "express my pain through destructive ways."
The man, formerly known as the Phantom, would have been alone in this world if it weren't for his fiancee. "Right now she's my everything. I don't have brother or sister, father or mother. My mother was the last surviving member of my family and I buried her three months ago."
Very protective of her identity, he wouldn't say much about this special woman, and what he did reveal came with strict instruction that The Sunday Gleaner should not disclose.
"She's my first real love. Being in prison has taught me how to truly appreciate women. When you're on the outside you take things for granted. You overlook how women can contribute to your development...my fiancee is special," Mr. Levy said.
He felt so strongly about her that he popped the question last December and though he couldn't afford a ring, he bought a cake with her name on it to commemorate their engagement.
"I'm not sure what type of wedding it will be, it depends on certain contributions pro-mised by friends. But I want something memorable - and what would make it memorable for me is for my spiritual father, Dr. Leveridge to be there," Mr, Levy said
Dr. George Leveridge, psychiatrist with the Department of Corrections, attests to a special relationship with Mr. Levy.
"He's a friend and a son to me. I really believe that he is genuinely rehabilitated and a part of this has to do with his spiritual awakening in coming to know Jesus as Saviour," Dr. Leveridge said.
Several other persons who knew Mr. Levy from his "Phantom" days, concurred with Dr. Leveridge.
Mr. Levy mused at how Deputy Superintendent of Police, Cornwall "Bigga" Ford, "a man who I used to trade bullets with," commended him when they sat on the same panel as motivational speakers at the Oberlin High School special boy's day last November.
"I remember him...he was a terrorist. God is really great to make such a dramatic change in a person's life. He is evidence that rehabilitation works," said DSP Ford.
Though his fiancee has been cautioned by many people about marrying a prison inmate, Mr. Levy said that he and his partner are realists who are aware of the challenges that their relationship will en-counter.
"My role as a husband will be restricted if I am not able to take care of my wife financially, but I have made submission to participate in a work release programme so I can work and contribute to my family," Mr. Levy said.
And, despite an awkward arrangement where he would probably only see his wife on weekends, he hopes to be a father.
"If I were to choose between winning $50 million in the lottery and being the father of a beautiful baby girl I'd rather die a pauper. I know that becoming a father while in here would limit me in playing the role that I want to...no single parent can sufficiently impact a child the way two parents can. But by the help of God I'm looking forward to the day when His mercies would be extended to me and I can live a normal family life," Mr. Levy said.
The day of mercies may soon come.
"Knowing where he is coming from, he has really transformed himself into a gentleman and a leader. He was the first at the institution to qualify for a weekend pass and with his exemplary behaviour he may be due for parole early," said Gillette Ramsey, immediate past Superintendent of the SCACC who held the post of superintendent up to last Monday.
