Lethem resident Peter Juan was yesterday sentenced to 14 years in jail for the unlawful killing of his reputed wife, whom he assaulted during an argument over a bicycle tire.
Juan was initially indicted for the capital offence of murder but threw himself at the mercy of the court and pleaded instead to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
When the charge was read to him yesterday morning before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown, Juan accepted that on February 18th, 2017, he unlawfully killed Justina Bernard.
According to the state’s case, presented by Prosecutor Nafeeza Baig, the two, who had been imbibing at a relative’s home, had an earlier argument over the slashing of a bicycle tire.
As they made their way home later on the day in question, the court heard that the argument continued and Bernard slapped her husband, telling him that he was a “mad man with no sense.”
Baig said that the man in turn threw the woman down and slammed her head to the ground.
A post-mortem report would later reveal that she died from cerebral haemorrhaging, caused by blunt trauma. Given a chance to address the court, Juan, in a sometimes barely audible tone, said that he was sorry for his actions, which had landed him before the courts.
The apologetic man begged Justice Kissoon to be merciful to him, as he begged for “another chance.”
His attorney, Maxwell McKay, also asked the judge to be lenient with Juan, whom he said is the father of a minor.
As he made a case for his client, McKay said his client has always been cooperative with police, and has always accepted responsibility for his actions.
He said that he has no antecedents and is a model prisoner.
Baig, in response, asked the judge to consider the degree of force meted out to Bernard and urged that the sentence reflect the nature and gravity of the offence, while noting that domestic violence continues to be on the increase.
Against this background, she said that the message of deterrence needed to be sent to potential offenders.
Justice Kissoon later commenced Juan’s sentence at a base of 25 years. After considering both the mitigating and aggravating circumstances of the case, for which deductions were made, the judge sentenced Juan to 14 years behind bars, while ordering that the prison will make further deductions therefrom for the time he would have spent behind bars awaiting trial.
