A 41-year-old woman from Garden Land, Country Road, St Michael, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for fatally stabbing her boyfriend four years ago. After credit for time on remand, she will serve 25 years and 348 days at Dodds Prison.
Shenika St Pierre was convicted by a jury last November of the murder of Herbie Callender, 56, formerly of St Barnabas Heights, St Michael, who died on March 28, 2022.
Calling the death “senseless and tragic”, Justice Pamela Beckles reached a 30-year starting point, taking into account the loss of life, the fact that St Pierre armed herself with two weapons, that Callender was stabbed more than once and while attempting to leave the house, that someone had intervened to take the knife from her, and the impact of the death on his family.
The judge noted St Pierre’s previous convictions, her being deemed at high risk of reoffending, as well as her cooperation with police and expression of remorse, and made no adjustment to the starting point.
She also addressed the role played by alcohol in the incident.
Justice Beckles said: “You admitted to drinking alcohol prior to the commission of this offence and have attributed that to why the incident occurred, suggesting that were it not for you being under the influence of alcohol, you would never have harmed the deceased. I must tell you, however, that voluntary intoxication is an aggravating factor as it relates to you, the offender, particularly when it contributes to violent offending like you inflicting the multiple stabbing wounds to the deceased. Just as you voluntarily consumed the alcohol and it was not forced down your throat, you must be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions, even if out of character. Your culpability in the circumstances is high.”
St Pierre was credited for the 1 477 days she spent on remand.
As St Pierre stood in the dock of the No. 5 Supreme Court, the judge told her: “You are not of previous good character and you have a number of previous convictions for assault. Your offending was serious in that the deceased received more than one stab injury to the body which caused his death. The deceased was attempting to get away from you by leaving the residence, but you held on to him and prevented him from leaving while inflicting the fatal wound. I do not consider that there was any significant degree of planning or premeditation in your actions, but an intention need not be a long-standing one born of long consideration or premeditation. It can equally be one that is formed in moments as it probably was in this case. It is more likely than not that you were intoxicated.
“However, to your credit, you have taken full responsibility for your actions and you will bear the heavy burden of guilt for what you have done for the rest of your life.”
St Pierre was also ordered to enrol in educational, vocational or counselling programmes to acquire certification, skills and knowledge “thereby assisting you upon your release to being a productive member of society”.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney prosecuted the case, while St Pierre was represented by defence counsel Sian Lange.
(JB)
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