Zibon Williams was yesterday sentenced to 12 years in prison by Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul for the 2021 killing of Joshua Ferdinand.
Williams, who was originally charged with murder, had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on July 12.
According to Prosecutor Padma Dubraj, on the night of the murder at approximately 8:30 pm at a shop in Friendship, East Bank Demerara, Williams, who was consuming alcohol at the time, got into an argument with Isha Ferdinand, the aunt of the deceased. During the altercation, Joshua Ferdinand intervened, pushing Williams into a nearby trench. Williams subsequently climbed out and stabbed Ferdinand twice—once in the abdomen and once in the neck. Ferdinand was later pronounced dead upon arrival at the Diamond Hospital.
During the sentencing, Justice Ally-Seepaul noted that the maximum penalty for manslaughter is 25 years. However, she took into account several mitigating factors, including Williams’ lack of prior offences, his apparent remorse, and the favourable probation report, which indicated that the crime was likely an isolated incident. Additionally, the judge acknowledged that Williams had pleaded guilty at an early stage in the trial, potentially saving the court’s time and resources.
However, despite these considerations, the judge also weighed the severity of the crime, noting the victim impact statement from Ferdinand’s family and the fact that Williams had armed himself with a knife and inflicted multiple stab wounds, indicating a level of intent. The youth and potential of the deceased were also considered in the final sentencing.
Taking all the factors into account, Justice Ally-Seepaul imposed a 12-year sentence, with time already served in remand to be deducted from the total.
