–for 2011 manslaughter of girl friend in Norton St, W/ville

JUSTICE Diana Insanally has imposed a 24-year prison term on Herbert Pilgrim after he pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter committed on his girlfriend, Nathalie Loncke, on February 12th, 2011.Justice Insanally noted from the remarks of Prosecutrix Miss Dhanika Singh that, on the day in question, Pilrim had gone to Loncke’s home with the intention of killing the woman or of making trouble.
The judge could not find anything from which provocation could flow.
In narrating the facts of the case, the Prosecutrix said that when Pilgrim entered Loncke’s home he found that she was preparing to go out, so he asked her where she was going. She did not reply, and this caused trouble, resulting in Loncke telling Pilgrim, “I already told you: when you drink, don’t come here!”
Pilgrim continued attacking Loncke with a knife with which he was armed, and Loncke subsequently died from knife-inflicted wounds.
Defence counsel, Mr. Huckumchand, in a plea in mitigation, pointed out that the accused was remorseful for what had happened, and begged for leniency; but the judge, who started the sentence with 30 years, deducted six of those for Pilgrim not wasting the court’s time, the time he had already spent in custody, and the plea in mitigation by his counsel; leaving 24 years, the period of incarceration for which Pilgrim was sentenced.
He took the sentence calmly.

(By George Barclay)