By Jeune Vankeric

JUSTICE Brassington Reynolds on Tuesday sentenced Waliaferro Joseph to 10 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of his common law wife, Uneata Mc Lean.

The crime was committed six years ago and Joseph had pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found guilty by the twelve member jury. State Counsel, Ms Stacy Gooding led the evidence of Ms McLean, who had revealed that she and her reputed husband had previously lived at Lot ‘D’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, but she fled from the abusive relationship at age 20, returning to her home village on the Corentyne Coast.

However, Joseph followed and after a brief cohabitation, the couple again separated after reports of physical abuse was raised. During the separation, Ms McLean lived with her sister and it was during that period Joseph had entered unannounced in the lower flat of the two storied building.

The virtual complainant had entered the kitchen, which was located on the lower flat, to prepare her dinner and while doing so, she felt a hand grabbed her throat, while the other gagged her mouth.

She was slammed to a wall, even as she tried to free herself. It was then she saw and recognized Joseph, who, seconds later, picked up a white handled knife form a nearby table. Five incised wounds were inflicted about her body, prior to her escaping through some louvre panes at the front of the house.

An alarm was raised and a police rank rescued her, took her to the Skeldon Public Hospital after which she was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, then to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she remained a patient for several days.

In his unsworn statement from the dock, Joseph said he commenced a common law relationship with the victim in February 2006 in Georgetown. He said the woman got his number from a friend and began contacting him, before inviting him to live with her on the Corentyne.

They subsequently went back and forth [from Corentyne to Sophia] during which they encountered numerous problems. However, he noted that on the day of the incident he was again invited to the home by the virtual complainant.

According to him, they were together in a room when her sister and a relative arrived, and after finding out that he was inside, they surrounded the house, before giving him a beating. He claimed it was during the melee that they chopped and stabbed McLean.

Further, Joseph told the Court that McLean had informed him that she was given a pillow by her mother, which would make her forget him. According to the man, the pillow was given to the mother by an “obeah man.”

Addressing the Judge, Joseph said, ‘Sir, the only thing I did wrong was to allow myself to be lured to the woman’s house for a little bit of sex.”

Senior Probation and Welfare Officer Claudia Munroe reported that Joseph continues to claim innocence of any alleged wrong doings against Ms Mclean. According to the Probation Officer, it was obvious that the couple experienced a violent relationship from which Ms Clean sought to escape but she was followed by Joseph, who had clear intentions of not wanting to let go of the relationship.

Munore informed the court that persons who knew him did not speak good things about him and identified arrogance in his attitude. The court heard that Joseph was also verbally abusive to his superiors in the Police Force.

His mother, Cheryl Williams, while also rejecting these allegations against her son admitted that she too was a victim of his arrogance for which she had to flog him when he was 21 – years – old.

The court heard that his ‘squaddie’ [no name mentioned], who is a Sergeant, also described Joseph as being hasty to other people during his tenure in the police force. The Officer concluded that the convict is in need of behavioral modification and psychological assistance.

Meanwhile, in his plea of mitigation, Joseph referring to biblical references which speaks of power, choice and knowledge said, ‘ Sir , you are in apposition to dispel justice ….there is a new government in place .This government talks of giving people a chance, giving them power and a choice. My mother, nor my children, nor my grandson or the victim will benefit whilst I am incarcerated. My children cannot ask me for any help. I cannot give them. I asked for a chance to work, so that I can compensate the victim. If I get a chance to work, the victim will benefit and the government will be happy, as I will be paying taxes.”

However, the Judge after listening and questioning the prisoner, observed that “it was a feature of yours to superimpose the order of things…The sooner you recognize that we are all a small part of this universe, the better it will be. I have considered your age, your three children, and your grandson, your offer of compensation, your plea of mitigation and your request to work to pay compensation and taxes. However, after listening to the probation report, not much was said good about you. The report reveal a sad tale…a bad time for spousal abuse … the worst scourge of modern day Guyana.”

The Judge questioned why men can’t walk away, even as violence is taking over.

“The sensible thing you should have done was to put some distance …you should have walked away. The jury did not believe your story, you premediated to do what you did. It was a deadly attack on a defenseless woman. Fortunately the woman is strong. It could have been a different story,” the Judge said.