North West District farmer Edward Simon has been sentenced to just over another three years in prison over the 2015 fatal stabbing of 25-year-old miner Lionel Williams with whom he had been drinking at Tin Cup Backdam.
Simon had initially been charged with murder, but at his arraignment last month, threw himself at the Court’s mercy and pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter; accepting that on May 25th, 2015 he unlawfully killed the young man.
In his brief address to Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at his sentencing hearing yesterday afternoon, Simon said that he was sorry for the life he took a result he said he never intended.
“Is de wrong mistake ah guh an mek,” he told the court, expressing his desire to one day apologize to the family of the deceased and to change his life by becoming a Christian, once released from prison.
Emphasizing the fact that the entire incident stemmed from his drunken state from which he intervened in a matter that did not concern him, Justice Barlow cautioned Simon that he should endeavour to stay away from alcohol as it is what has gotten him into trouble.
The judge further admonished the seeming attentive Simon that he should begin taking steps towards changing his life around while in prison, so that after his release, he would only have to continue building on what he would have already started.
Simon who expressed regret for his actions told the Judge that he was not only grateful for her guidance and encouragement, but intends to also heed her advice.
Presenting a plea in mitigation on behalf of his client, defence attorney Teriq Mohammed beseeched the judge to consider his client’s early plea in taking responsibility for his actions and seeking forgiveness, his previous unblemished record and what was described to the court as his “exemplary” behaviour in prison.
Begging for leniency, he said that at 45 years old, Simon still has prospects of rehabilitation.
In a victim impact statement read by the prosecutor on behalf of Ivory Abrams cousin of the deceased and nephew to Simon the court heard of how the events of that fateful day have not only left their family devastated, but also shattered their unity.
Abrams the court heard, related that he not only misses his now dead cousin, but his uncle also, who has had to be incarcerated ever since.
Justice Barlow said that after considering both the mitigating and aggravating factors of the case, a base of 17 years was an appropriate starting point.
Therefrom, she awarded the full one-third deduction of six years, seven months for the offender’s early plea; and lamenting the length of time he has been on remand, ordered that the prison make further deductions for that entire period.
Simon has been incarcerated since 2015
The judge further ordered that he be provided with counselling tailored for alcohol abusers.
Police had said that Williams and two other men had been drinking at a shop when an argument broke out, during which Simon intervened and subsequently stabbed Williams.
An autopsy would later reveal that the young man died as a result of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple incised wounds.
