CARPENTER/Contractor Lawrence Rambaran of Catwalk, Port Kaituma, NWD, indicted for the 2009 cutlass chopping death of his wife Deborah Allen, was yesterday sentenced to 19 years’ jail by Justice James Bovell-Drakes, who, having presided over his trial in the Demerara Assizes, took into consideration the gruesome manner in which Deborah Allen had met her death, as detailed in the pathologist’s post-mortem report that the wounds inflicted on her had been large.

Noting that the accused did not waste the court’s time, and had placed himself at the mercy of the court by entering a guilty plea to the lesser count of manslaughter, the judge said that action had served the convict in good stead.
Noting that the offence for which the defendant stood convicted carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, Justice Bovell-Drakes pointed out that in circumstances which so warranted, a judge can use  his/her discretion to impose a penalty less than that prescribed by law.
The judge said he had taken into account the years that the accused had spent incarcerated; the remorse that he had expressed; and his counsel’s, Mr Peter Hugh’s, stirring plea in mitigation.
Nevertheless, he also had to take into account the fact that a life had been lost, and that certain expectations were harboured by society and the relatives of the deceased in regard to the justice system.
He expressed hope that the 19 years of imprisonment would serve as a message to those who are minded to do like the accused.
The judge ordered that the sentence should take effect from yesterday.
The accused had attended the primary school at Abrams Creek, Pomeroon River, Region 2, for approximately eight days. He reported that his educational pursuit had been hindered as a result of his father’s alcoholic abuse of his mother in the home.
State Counsel Miss Natasha Backer conducted the case for the prosecution.