Following the conclusion of a sentencing hearing yesterday which was dominated by reports of the eight years of abuse Allison Bowen endured at the hands of her reputed husband, which eventually ended in her death—Alex Douglas was handed a life sentence—with the order to serve 20 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Referencing the events of that fateful day in 2012 at Goedverwagting, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall said Douglas who retrieved from a haversack he was carrying at the time, the knife with which he would later murder his wife, had clearly planned to do what he did.
“His actions were premeditated” the judge said, while noting Douglas’ attack on the woman’s sister—Nichola King—whom he also stabbed to the chest, as she ran to the aid of her now-dead sister.
In his brief address to the court, Douglas spoke of how sorry he was for all the “drama” he caused the woman’s family and friends and the pain they have had to endure over her loss; while singling out her children whom he admitted leaving motherless.
In what he said was a sincere apology, Douglas who had attempted to commit suicide after killing the woman, said it grieves him that her children must now face the rest of their lives without their mother.
Notwithstanding his actions, however, he told the judge he thought the Court should be merciful towards him.
Nichola who survived the murderous attack, and their mother Audrey Bowen, presented tearfully moving tributes of their sister and daughter, memorializing her as fun-loving and lamented the void left in their lives without her.
But perhaps it was the address to the court of Allison’s daughter that was most touching, as the young lady spoke of the devastation losing her “best friend” has been and her struggles a decade later to cope.
Jamacia Bowen said that growing up without her mother has been one of the hardest parts of life she has had to face, noting she felt as if a part of her died with her mother also, and over which she cried herself to sleep every night.
She said she became withdrawn, depressed and has had to battle anxiety and the bombardment of suicidal thoughts.
“I was so broken and lost in such a dark place that sadness and grief took over,” the young lady said.
She then spoke of the impact on her academic performance as she found it difficult focusing.
“There are times I remembered feeling like my entire world stopped turning and I would have those random flashbacks on how Alex would brutalize her in the presence of me and my older brothers and we could not do anything to protect our mother,” Jamacia said.
She then went on to add, “I would remember the way I screamed and cried and pleaded with him many times to please stop.”
Jamacia expressed the belief that had her mother still been alive, “maybe our lives would have been way better than it is today.”
The well-spoken young lady then had words of advice for women in similar relationships like her mother; “You don’t have to put up with it! Get help! Leave! There is a better life!”
Nichola in her address to the court had said that her sister’s death in a way ended her marriage, after her husband divorced her, stating that it was too much to care for them, their three children and Allison’s three children whom she took-in.
Probation and Social Services officer Mahesia Granville in presenting the probation report on the offender described him as having been “detached” during their interview and failing to genuinely take responsibility for his action.
She said that while he pleaded guilty to murdering his wife, he had indicated in the same vein that, that decision was based on the fact that the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Stating that her client has always indicated his desire to take responsibility for his actions, defence attorney Latchmie Rahamat said that he wanted to adopt that course some two years ago.
In her mitigating plea, she also asked the Court to consider that her client was a model prisoner with no antecedents, even as she too begged for clemency on his behalf.
Prosecutor Caressa Henry, however, had asked the judge to impose a sentence that would send a strong message of deterrence to potential offenders, even as she underscored the prevalence of domestic violence.
Having regard to all the circumstances—aggravating and mitigating—Justice Morris-Ramlall after a number of deductions, including for the early plea, announced that Douglas would be sentenced to life in prison.
She, however, said that he is not to be eligible for parole until after serving a minimum of 20 years for his wife’s murder; and eight years for the attack on her sister.
She said the sentences are to be served concurrently, and further ordered that beginning next month—until his release from prison—he is to enlist in counselling and anger-management programmes.
At his arraignment just under a month ago, the now 52-year-old Douglas said he was guilty of murdering the mother of three, on October 14th, 2012 at Goedverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara.
The man who is the father of two adult children from a separate relationship, also admitted that on the same day he wounded Nichola with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm; or to maim, disfigure or disable her.
Justice Morris-Ramlall had deferred sentencing for the probation report and victim impact statements.
This newspaper had previously reported that the two shared a rocky eight-year relationship which according to relatives, saw Bowen reporting violent episodes to the police, but Douglas was never taken before the court.
Reports were that he attempted to force Bowen to eat some rat poison he had in a butter bowl and when she refused to consume it, he pulled out a knife and started stabbing her.
An autopsy had revealed that she was stabbed a total of nine times to the back, hand, heart and left hand.
The man fled the scene after the incident and the following morning while walking along Camp Street he spotted the police. As the ranks approached he was seen putting something into his mouth.
He was admitted to the Georgetown Hospital in an unconscious state and later discharged.
Based on the accounts which had been given to the Stabroek News, earlier on the day in question, the couple had a misunderstanding during which Douglas attempted to hit Bowen with a hammer.
He later butted her to the forehead resulting in it being left swollen. Bowen reported the incident to the police and visited the Georgetown Hospital where she obtained a medical.
However, when police visited the house to arrest the man he had already left.
He returned later around 8:30 pm and the woman left the house to get her sister Nichola who lived nearby.
It was while heading back that the trio had a confrontation during which Nichola questioned the man as to why he was always being abusive to her sister.
It was then that he reportedly attempted to force Bowen to eat rat poison and when she refused, he began stabbing her.
