Jailed for 15 years yesterday
JUSTICE James Bovell-Drakes, who imposed a 15-year prison sentence on ex-Cop, manslaughter accused Kurt Wong, for the unlawful killing of his wife Rhonda Wong, told the 37-year old prisoner:

“I have arrived at the decision that you have to be incarcerated for a protracted period. I do hope that during this period that the authorities at the prison will ensure that you have therapy to ensure that you develop the ability to attend the challenges of life with greater serenity after you would have paid your dues to society.

“In the circumstances of this, I am of the view that you be incarcerated for a period of 15 years. Your release will take place at a stage when most of your four children will be beyond the age of majority. I do hope that you will be able to interact with them before they enter into matrimony and undertake the challenges of adulthood. I hope that you use the period of incarceration to reflect constantly on what your life has become and what you could and would have been able to do for your children but for your irresponsible, unreasonable and senseless conduct . I do hope that during that period you do resolve to correct your view of and your approach to life and not to reconsider such a course of conduct for the remainder of your life.

Prosecutors Prithima Kissoon and Dianna Boyan conducted the case for the prosecution at which the accused, indicted for the offence of murder, pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter on 21st May, 2009.

The facts of the case disclosed that the accused, on March 4, 2005, knifed his wife to death and later claimed that she was unfaithful and had a secret lover.

The accused, who was originally charged with murder, pleaded not guilty to the capital charge but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter which was accepted by the prosecution.

Defence counsel Joan Ward-Mars, in association with Liza Maria
Hanoman from the Linden Legal Aid Centre, in a stirring plea in
Mitigation, told the court that the accused was a father of 4 who was
subjected to hardships due to the infidelity of his wife. She urged the
judge to give the accused, who was a caring man , the opportunity to
look after his children.

She pleaded, “Your Honour, it is respectfully submitted that the facts of
this case concerning the defendant’s state of mind at the time of the
incident are consistent with the psychological condition recognised
by courts worldwide and known as “battered person syndrome”, which
has repeatedly been used to support a finding of diminished
responsibility or to negative responsibility altogether for felonious or
homicidal violence.

“Battered person syndrome may be described as a series of common
characteristics that appear in persons who are physically,
psychologically abused over an extended period of time by their mate,
or someone who owes that person a special duty of concern and
respect.”

Among other things, Probation Officer Floyde Rudder said that in
1998, the accused joined the Guyana Police Force and left after three
years and immediately thereafter proceeded into the interior of
Guyana as a miner. After six weeks, he returned to Linden since his
exploits in the interior proved futile and engaged himself in the
construction industry as a labourer; but the availability of jobs in this
field was seasonal and this led the accused to join the Linden Mining
Enterprise Constabulary as a Supernumerary Constable in 1993.

In conclusion, the Probation Officer said, “ The genesis of this court
proceeding seems to hinge on the problematic situation experienced by
both the accused and the deceased. However, the accused who grew
up in a relatively stable home environment has allowed his emotions
to overcome him, resulting in the loss of life. Although the accused
have been a jilted man, this does not justify his actions; and as an ex-
member of one of the disciplined services, he should have exercised
restraint in dealing with problematic situations.