By Jeune VanKeric

– gets 23 years for killing neighbour

JAINARINE Balgobin, alias “Payo,” had initially pleaded guilty to murdering his neighbour, 53-year-old Bhumattie Delall.

But on his second appearance on Tuesday, something inside him apparently snapped as he changed his plea and confessed to the lesser count of manslaughter.

It would soon become apparent that his change of heart had to do with new evidence which was brought to the attention of Presiding Judge, Jo Ann Barlow.

And it paid off, as he was consequently sentenced to 23 years imprisonment, after two years were deducted for time spent, and an additional five for not wasting the court’s time.
The court also ordered that whilst a guest of the state, “Payo” must be subject to anger-management counselling.

Whilst addressing the convict earlier before handing down sentence, Justice Barlow had asked “Payo” whether he was under the influence of alcohol, as she’d learnt via the media that prisoners had access to it.

His having replied in the negative, she pressed him further into saying whether he would act the same way as he did on the morning of November 4, 2016, when he reportedly chopped Delall to death.

Again “Payo” replied in the negative, saying that try as he might, he could not recall the incident, despite having had sleepless nights ever since.
Seemingly contrite, “Payo” told the judge from the dock: “Meh sorry whuh happen; meh was not in meh right senses; meh was drinking rum early.”
In her report, Probation Officer Ms Dionne Douglas told the court that the 42-year-old convict had had a troubled past since a child, but that things got progressively worse when his wife committed suicide after the death of two of their four children.
Consumed with grief, Douglas said Payo found comfort in alcohol, and that many times whilst under its influence, he would exhibit a decidedly split personality.
This split personality of his, the probation officer said, would often lead to altercations with his mother, and cause the now deceased Delall who lived nearby to have to intervene and act as peacemaker.

Neighbours are of the opinion that it was because of the woman’s constant interference in the affairs of the mother and son that may have caused her demise.
State-assigned defence lawyer Sasha Roberts, in her plea of mitigation, reminded the judge that her client had thrown himself at her mercy, and asked that justice be tempered with mercy.

But State Prosecutrix Tuanna Hardy countered that the convict was seen with the cutlass leaving the dead woman’s home, as he was almost caught red-handed.
On November 4, 2016, Balgobin, armed with a cutlass, had gone over to his neighbour, 53-year-old Bhumattie Delall’s house and dealt her five fatal incised wounds about the body before being arrested by the police.