(Trinidad Express) After years of abuse at the hands of her alcoholic lover, whom she stabbed to death during one of her usual alcohol-induced beatings, mother of six Angela Clarke was yesterday ordered to serve a maximum of two years and seven months in prison.
Clarke was originally charged with murdering her husband Dean Bhandoo on May 16, 2008 during an argument. Clarke stabbed Bhandoo, 40, once in the left side of his chest during a fight at their modest home at Rincon Road, Las Cuevas.
On October 3, Clarke, 42, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter when she appeared before High Court Judge Mark Mohammed in the Second Criminal Court, Port of Spain, and the matter was adjourned to yesterday’s date for sentencing.
An emotional Clarke told the court she was “so very sorry” for her actions and said, if given the chance, she will do all her best for society when she addressed the court on October 3.
During her sentencing, Justice Mohammed took into consideration Clarke’s abusive past, saying that Clarke lost her baby at six weeks as a result of the beatings; the fact that she had no criminal record prior to the incident; the length of time she stayed in prison awaiting trial; the fact that Clarke took the time spent in prison to rehabilitate herself; and she pleaded guilty on the first opportunity.
Mohammed said although those were facts that worked in Clarke’s favour it must not overshadow the fact that a life was lost. He added that as a result of this a custodial sentence must be imposed.
The judge said that the spectrum of sentences given past matters of such nature was between ten and 25 years, adding that a long-term sentence would be excessive.
Mohammed said he would start Clarke’s sentencing at 12 years. He then sliced off four years for her pleading guilty and another year for good character. From the remaining seven years, four years and five months were deducted for time spent in prison, leaving Clarke to serve two years and seven months beginning from the date she pleaded guilty.
Clarke was represented by defence attorneys Vernon De Lima SC and Kern Saney, while Senior State attorney Tricia Hudlin-Cooper represented the State.