A FORMER police officer, Shawn Fordyce, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a savage cutlass attack that nearly ended the lives of his ex-wife and her children.
The sentencing occurred on Tuesday at the Demerara High Court, with Justice Damone Younge presiding, following Fordyce’s guilty plea to charges of attempted murder and felonious wounding.

Fordyce was represented by defence attorney Ronald Bostwick, while State Counsel Muntaz Ali appeared on behalf of the prosecution.
The harrowing incident unfolded on the night of August 1, 2013, in Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Fordyce’s former wife, Dorothy Fordyce, was preparing to leave their home with her children and grandchild when he confronted her, stating she had no right to leave.
As she attempted to step outside, Shawn threw dirty water at her and threateningly declared, “I gon’ finish tonight. I gon’ finish tonight.”
He then drew a 20-inch machete and launched a brutal attack. Dorothy was struck repeatedly, suffering severe injuries to her shoulder, face, and head.
Her daughter, Latoya Wilson, tried to protect her child, but was mercilessly slashed across the head, neck, back, and hands. Miraculously, the toddler she held in her arms escaped with only minor injuries.

The couple’s then 12-year-old daughter, Dollette Fordyce, was also gravely injured while attempting to defend herself, with one of the cutlass strikes nearly severing her wrist.
Wanda Fortune, who later became a magistrate, was attacked while trying to flee.
She managed to escape her stepfather’s brutal assault, seeking refuge at a nearby house, her body bleeding and clad only in her undergarments.
After the attack, Shawn fled the scene, evading capture for more than two years.

He was eventually arrested on October 20, 2015. In her sentencing, Justice Younge condemned the violence and its devastating consequences.
She described Shawn’s actions as a premeditated attempt to murder his entire family, not merely an act of domestic violence.
The judge emphasised the brutality of the attack, noting the use of a deadly weapon and the lasting physical and emotional scars inflicted on the victims.
Taking into account the time Shawn had already served in custody, Justice Younge sentenced him to 10 years in prison for each of the four charges of felonious wounding and 12 years for each of the four charges of attempted murder. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 12 years behind bars.