2 years for killing common-law husband
By JADA LOUTOO Tuesday, October 16 2012
ANGELA
Clarke wept quietly after being told she will serve out a prison term
of two years and seven months for the killing of her common-law husband
in 2008. Clarke, 37, a mother of six of La Fillette was yesterday
sentenced by Justice Mark Mohammed in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal
Court, where she earlier this month pleaded guilty to the lesser count
of manslaughter.
She was charged for the
murder of Dean Bhandoo of Rincon Road, Las Cuevas on May 16, 2008.
Bhandoo, 51, was stabbed once to the left side of his chest during an
altercation at his home.
As he went through the sentencing process, Mohammed said he arrived at his sentence after balancing the seriousness of the act which resulted in a loss of life against the abuse Clarke endured for the two years she lived with Bhandoo.
Having also taken into consideration Clarke’s admittance of guilt as well as her efforts at rehabilitating herself while in prison, Mohammed said a sentence of seven years was appropriate.
He explained that although 12 years was his starting point, he deducted four years for the guilty plea and one year for the mitigating factors in the case, leaving seven years which was further reduced by the four years and five months Clarke spent in prison awaiting trial.
On October 3, when she pleaded guilty, Clarke was allowed to address the court and she said, she was “so very sorry” for her actions. The couple’s relationship was often fraught with loud, heated arguments and May 16, 2008 was no different.
According to prosecutor Tricia Hudlin-Cooper, Clarke stabbed Bhandoo after an argument. The couple were both said to have shown signs of being drunk and according to her attorney Vernon de Lima SC, six weeks prior to the incident a pregnant Clarke miscarried after being pushed by Bhandoo.
When police arrived, they saw Bhandoo’s body and Clarke told them: “Is it me you all come for? Don’t shoot...handcuff me.” After being cautioned, Clarke told police “Officer, (is) he really dead? I don’t know how he got stabbed. I went out the road to get soda for him because he was drunk.”
De Lima said alcohol played a big part in what happened on May 16, 2008. He admitted that Bhandoo was kind to Clarke’s six children, but the couple often drank together and argued.
De Lima noted that whenever Bhandoo drank he would become angry, possessive and jealous. Clarke, he said, was contrite and remorseful. “She knows what she did was wrong,” he said. Also appearing with de Lima for the defence was Kern Saney while Rehana Ali appeared for the prosecution.
As he went through the sentencing process, Mohammed said he arrived at his sentence after balancing the seriousness of the act which resulted in a loss of life against the abuse Clarke endured for the two years she lived with Bhandoo.
Having also taken into consideration Clarke’s admittance of guilt as well as her efforts at rehabilitating herself while in prison, Mohammed said a sentence of seven years was appropriate.
He explained that although 12 years was his starting point, he deducted four years for the guilty plea and one year for the mitigating factors in the case, leaving seven years which was further reduced by the four years and five months Clarke spent in prison awaiting trial.
On October 3, when she pleaded guilty, Clarke was allowed to address the court and she said, she was “so very sorry” for her actions. The couple’s relationship was often fraught with loud, heated arguments and May 16, 2008 was no different.
According to prosecutor Tricia Hudlin-Cooper, Clarke stabbed Bhandoo after an argument. The couple were both said to have shown signs of being drunk and according to her attorney Vernon de Lima SC, six weeks prior to the incident a pregnant Clarke miscarried after being pushed by Bhandoo.
When police arrived, they saw Bhandoo’s body and Clarke told them: “Is it me you all come for? Don’t shoot...handcuff me.” After being cautioned, Clarke told police “Officer, (is) he really dead? I don’t know how he got stabbed. I went out the road to get soda for him because he was drunk.”
De Lima said alcohol played a big part in what happened on May 16, 2008. He admitted that Bhandoo was kind to Clarke’s six children, but the couple often drank together and argued.
De Lima noted that whenever Bhandoo drank he would become angry, possessive and jealous. Clarke, he said, was contrite and remorseful. “She knows what she did was wrong,” he said. Also appearing with de Lima for the defence was Kern Saney while Rehana Ali appeared for the prosecution.
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