ANDERSON Nicholson, who murdered his wife whom he had married three months earlier, at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, escaped the gallows after he confessed to a manslaughter indictment, and was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by Justice Roxanne George, at the Berbice Assizes on Monday.

Nicholson, who was initially charged with murder, had, in November last, confessed to the lesser count of manslaughter, committed four years ago, which was accepted by State Counsel Pernitha Kissoon.
Defence Counsel Tania Clements, in a mitigation plea, said while the act was never intended, and her client noted that his mother-in-law was being overly influential in his relationship, which caused tension between himself and his wife.
Clements told the court that, during her two visits to Nicholson at the New Amsterdam prison, she was instructed that the incident was fuelled by his mother-in-law, who had approached him, and had started to fight, with his wife getting into the middle of the altercation.
According to the lawyer, “It was the mother-in-law who brought the cutlass, which he took. He did not know what overtook him, as his judgment became   clouded and he overacted.
Questioned by the judge as to what he had to say prior to sentencing, Nicholson quickly stood in the dock, armed with a paper from which he narrated his story which, lasted almost fifteen minutes.
Nicholson, reading from the lined paper, said he was remorseful for ‘whatever took place’. However, he realized what was said and done, and that he had eventually made up his mind to be a Christian. His daily chores include teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, as a baptized Seventh Day Adventist.
During his incarceration he came to realize that something wrong was done and that he had to face the consequences of his action.
Describing the event as a contrary triangle, Nicholson said, he and his wife were living a happy constructive life, but because of provocation, ‘I do not know how the devil managed to overcome us, resulting in permanent  separation, and leaving friends, family and neighbours and relatives in shock, grief and sorrow.
Concluding with scriptural references taken from the Bible, Nicholson threw himself on the mercy of the court.
Meanwhile, in response to questions by the judge, with respect to his knowledge of domestic violence, the convict had initially responded in the negative, but later stated, ‘I had a kind of idea, but not so much as I know now, having been taught by members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and others at the prison’.
In her report which was not favourable to the prosecution, Probation and Welfare Officer, Maureen Thomas told Justice Roxanne George that Anderson Nicholson has accepted responsibility for the unlawful killing of his wife, Trevlin, but claimed it was never his intention to inflict the fatal wound.
Nicholson, the sixth of eleven  children born to Desmond Nicholson, now deceased, and Anetha Nicholson,  grew up at Rosignol and D’ Edward on the West Bank of Berbice, and had attended the Rosignol Primary and Secondary schools. However, he was removed from the school system at age 14, due to family conflict, and he was placed to reside with an uncle at Kaboya Cattle Ranch, where he assisted in cattle rearing until age 24.
Thereafter, he sought and gained employment for a year in the gold industry as a porkknocker at Sand Pit, Potaro in the Essequibo River, before returning to Rosignol Village where he established a common law union with Nicole Fraser of Weldaad.
Together they produced a daughter, now 12. Another common law relationship commenced with the prisoner and the now deceased. They were legally married in July 2008.
Residents from the D’ Edward neighbourhood described the convict as a quiet, hard working helpful and dedicated person.
Further, he was described as a person who loved cattle and treats animals as friends. But they were shocked over the court proceedings, and proclaimed that provocation is what may have driven him to kill his wife.
The officer noted that it was the now deceased who was involved in extra martial affairs, and was presumptuous in taking her paramours to the neighbourhood, with the encouragement of her mother, knowing that her husband was around.
Concluding, the officer noted instances, including the withdrawing the convict from the school system, which had indeed robbed him of adequate education and the ability to make rational judgements and decisions.
In a summary of the facts, State Counsel Kissoon said prosecution witness Romain Alexander, mother- in-law of the accused, was at home at Rosignol, when she received information resulting in her going to a nearby dam, where she saw her daughter and the convict having an argument.
She interceded, parted the couple and took her daughter home. While at home, Nicholson entered the yard and verbally abused her daughter.
‘He went into the house, picked up a cutlass, then into the backyard, where he fired chops at Trevlin.’
The witness, in an attempt to save her daughter, went between the accused and her daughter, and she received a chop to her forehead, forcing her to run from the yard, while her daughter ran to what is known as the PNC dam.
Nicholson continued chopping his wife, Alexander said.
Another witness, policeman Duke Jacques, was visiting relatives nearby when he witnessed Nicholson inflicting the fatal injuries on his wife.
Jacques pursued the convict who escaped by running into bushes.
Kissoon said although a post-mortem report was not made by Government Pathologist Vivikanand Brijmohan, the doctor gave evidence at the Magistrate Court stating that the cause of death was shock and haemorrhage from multiple incised wounds.
Justice George, perusing the evidence, noted that there was evidence of domestic violence. Additionally, it was noted that the probation reports spoke of incidents of infidelity, especially in the previous relationships of the accused.
“I will start off with 23 years,” the judge said.
“I take off three years after considering the plea of guilt, and a similar amount for the probation report. I am mandated to take off for years for the time Nicholson spent as a remanded prisoner. I am now left with 13 years.”