Gladstone Williamson who pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter was yesterday sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for killing his reputed wife, Gertrude Veronica Benn between May 7 and 8, 2009.
Justice Franklyn Holder imposed an additional 16-year sentence after he admitted that he attempted to murder Benn’s daughter, Kerry Edwards and her niece, Samantha Charles. He had slit the girls’ throats.
Williamson will serve a total of 22 years in jail since the two eight-year sentences for the attempted murder charges would run concurrently.
He was originally indicted for the capital offence but his manslaughter plea was accepted by the State with permission from the judge.
Williamson had told police in a caution statement that Benn had left their Angoy’s Avenue home because of constant misunderstandings and lived at Ithaca with the children. He said too that he visited her often and begged her to return home but she refused.
After making plantain chips and packaging them on May 7 he accompanied her to the Blairmont, West Bank Berbice ground where they sold the chips.
As they were returning to the home around midnight an argument ensued over her refusal to return to his home.
The argument intensified and when they arrived at the house, Williamson, in a fit of rage had whipped out a knife from his pants pocket.
He then braced the woman to the bed and slashed her throat. Although she was bleeding profusely from the wound she managed to run out of the house and into a neighbour’s yard.
He then proceeded to slash the throats of the two girls who were lying in their beds.
On February 10 after he was questioned by the Court Registrar he confessed to the charge. Prior to his sentencing, when asked what he had to say, he responded, “I am profoundly sorry, for the occurrence of the incidence.”
He said too, “I would like to say, sorry to the family, relatives and friends of Gertude Veronica Benn. My heartfelt regret to Samantha Charles and Kerry Edwards for the offence I have committed against them. They are not here [at court] but I am very sorry for the trauma and the experience they had to encounter at such a time in their lives.”
He continued, “Your Honour, I place myself at the mercy seat of the court and I beg that the court have mercy and leniency on me. I am deeply sorry for everything that happened and wished none had occurred.”
While gazing periodically through a window in the courtroom, he added “Your Honour, I have asked God for forgiveness, for everything that has occurred. Since I am in prison, I have changed my life, dramatically to the extent where I have come to understand that every living individual needs God in their lives… If I had known God before, none of this would have taken place.”
He said too, “But every day I ask God’s forgiveness, and I do hope that Samantha Charles, and Kerry Edwards along with relatives and friends of Gertrude Benn, the deceased, would be able some day to forgive me, for what occurred. I do hope that court will be able to forgive me for everything.”
