Krismar Espinosa Gets Life in Prison for Murder of Wilbert Banks Jr.

Thirty-seven-year-old Krismar Espinosa has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Wilbert Banks Junior. Justice Nigel Pilgrim handed down the sentence yesterday, setting a minimum term of thirty-two years before Espinosa can become eligible for parole. That term takes effect from April 9, 2024.  In arriving at the sentence, Justice Pilgrim started with thirty years and added five years for aggravating factors, including Espinosa’s previous conviction for manslaughter. Espinosa had served sixteen years in prison and was released in July 2023. Nine months later, he was charged with Banks’s murder. The judge said that previous conviction raised concerns about his danger to the public and whether he had been rehabilitated.  The court then deducted three years after considering his conduct on remand, the rehabilitation courses he completed, and positive accounts from his family and friends. Justice Pilgrim noted those efforts but said the aggravating factors remained very strong.  During an earlier mitigation hearing, the court heard statements from Banks’s employer, his father and his fourteen-year-old daughter. His employer, Andrew Ordonez, remembered him as a quiet, hardworking man who was always willing to help. His father, Wilbert Banks Senior, described the pain of losing both his sons and said no verdict could bring Wilbert back.  Banks’s daughter spoke about the everyday moments she now misses, from Sunday barbecues to the Valentine’s baskets her father made for her. She also described the hurt of reaching milestones, including graduation, without him.  Espinosa was found guilty in July following a trial without a jury.