–Justice Holder commutes 25-yr jail sentence to 10 years
A LOVER named Gilian Devon, called ‘Sparkie and ‘Jucker’, went on a rum spree with his girlfriend and others on “All Fools Day”, 2009 (April 1st).
He left his girlfriend at home to purchase food, returning later to find his darling in a sex act with another man. On seeing the unexpected, he enquired what she was doing; and according to him, his drunken partner — Pamela Beverly Ann Mangru — mother of 4, attacked him with a knife, which in his state of intoxication he grabbed and used as a death weapon, stabbing her to death.
In court, he confessed to the crime, blaming the woman for what had happened even as he pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
His counsel, Attorney-at-law Trenton Lake, placed those facts on the table and begged for leniency for his client, pointing out that the man had trouble forced upon him.
Nevertheless, trial judge Justice Franklyn Holder had in mind sentencing the defendant to 25 years’ imprisonment for the offence.
Of that amount of time, the judge deducted 3 years which the prisoner had spent in custody; and considered lessening time by 7 years for remorse, favourable probation report, and his being a father of young children. Moreover, the judge deducted 5 years for a timely guilty plea. That, the judge said, left 10 years remaining.
Accordingly, the defendant was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, which he accepted with a “Thank You” to the judge.
However, in his earlier plea for leniency for his client, defence counsel Lake had said, “Your Honour was told, and the defence does not challenge, that on the day of 1st April, 2009, the accused and the deceased — his reputed wife — were in a celebratory mode with some friends on the West Bank of Demerara. They consumed several bottles of liquor, and were both intoxicated. (At) about 1pm, it became time for the two to retire (to bed), and they both went to their West Demerara home.
“Having arrived home, the accused left the deceased at home, (and went) to get some food. Upon his return, he found what would be a nightmare for any man, let alone himself. He found his darling Beverly having sex with another man. The accused, being stunned by such a twist in his fortunes, asked the deceased what she was doing, and she in turn started to abuse him, picked up a knife and attacked him. The accused relieved her of the weapon and stabbed her. She died in his arms.
“Your Honour, today, for this offence, this accused stands before the court, not in want of remorse, baring his bosom and head aloft as a self righteous bigot, but with soul downcast like a penitent, since craving the mercy of this Honourable Court.”
Prosecutors in the case were Mrs.Judith Gildharie-Mursalin and Miss Renita Singh.