Despite his pleas for forgiveness, Jermaine Bristol was on Tuesday afternoon handed a life sentence for the 2018 killing of his girlfriend, Shanece Lawrence, whom he stabbed to death.
At the man’s sentencing hearing, Lawrence’s parents and brother reminisced about the fun-loving, willing and caring individual they said she was as they tearfully lamented the void her death had created in their close-knit family circle.
Meanwhile, an apologetic Bristol begged the judge to be merciful, stating that he lives with immense regret and was sorry for what he had done.
He also sought the forgiveness of the dead woman’s family. Bristol, who described Lawrence’s mother as a mother to him as well, pleaded with her to “find it deep down in your heart to forgive me.”
In his impassioned plea, Bristol begged the still visibly distraught woman to see him as a son begging her forgiveness, even as he commended himself to her as not being “a bad person” and stating that he never meant to do what he did.
Breaking down in tears, Bristol sought society’s forgiveness as well, while stating that there isn’t a day that goes by that he does not think of Lawrence and what he said were the seven years they shared together “going strong” and their plans of getting married.
“Please have mercy on me, Sir, I’m begging you this afternoon,” was Bristol’s repeated entreaty to Justice Sandil Kissoon.
Justice Kissoon, in his sentencing remarks, said that the incidence of intimate partner violence continues to rapidly escalate, unabated, which results in victims being viciously brutalized.
The Judge told Bristol that in cases like his, women are subjected to such acts of cruelty for reasons best known to him (Bristol) and other like-minded individuals “who appear to believe that you have some sort of right to inflict this measure of pain, and this measure of suffering, not only against another human being, but one [who] has spent seven years as your partner.”
The Judge said that such victims often suffer in silence and in hope that the violence they experience is somehow temporary, would come to an end “and bring forth that life and that period of happiness that would have existed at the beginning of the relationship.”
Noting that Lawrence was only 24 years old when she was killed, Justice Kissoon told a visibly distressed Bristol that the young woman endured much pain and anguish at his hands for seven years.
The Judge said it all culminated “unfortunately, as all of these matters do, in her death,” describing the act leading thereto as “brutal and calculated” and stemming from a relationship that the evidence showed was “characterized by violence.”
The Judge also lamented Bristol’s use of a knife, left embedded in Lawrence’s neck, which the pathologist said bore five incised wounds. The Judge said the injuries inflicted would only have resulted in death.
He told Bristol that the “multitude” of wounds Lawrence sustained to her neck and the degree of force with which they were inflicted “reflects [that] your intention was simply to kill.”
The Judge said that such has been the effect of Lawrence’s death on her family that it could not be diluted by Bristol’s pleas for mercy. While noting his early plea in accepting responsibility for his actions, Justice Kissoon said that it could not mitigate or in any way dilute the “horror” of what Bristol exerted on the young woman.
The Judge said that the prevalence of intimate partner violence remains of great concern to the courts, the justice system and “members of society who are confronted with their anguish, the pain, the suffering and the loss.”
Referencing a plethora of case law precedents, Justice Kissoon said that given the gravity of the offence and the severe manner in which Lawrence met her demise, it warranted a sentence of life in prison.
It was ordered that Bristol must serve no less than 35 years before being eligible for parole and he is also to have counselling to aid his rehabilitation.
Early last month, Bristol threw himself at the mercy of the Court, admitting his guilt in the capital offence.
He pleaded guilty to murdering Lawrence on August 22, 2018, at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown.
The prosecution’s facts, presented by state counsel Muntaz Ali, are that a crying Bristol subsequently made his way to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was arrested after confessing to the crime.
The couple had been involved in a relationship for a number of years, but started living together in June of 2018.
Previous reports indicated that Lawrence was physically abused by Bristol.
A report had been filed months before by Lawrence after they got into an altercation at a city hotel, where Bristol allegedly threw away all of her belongings, including her clothing.
