NA woman remanded over murder of husband
An Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam woman was yesterday remanded to prison after she was charged with her husband’s murder following her reported confession to investigators in Region Six that the victim discovered her cheating and began nagging at her and as such she decided to poison him.
Leila Bacchus, 42, a sweeper cleaner of Lot 1459 Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue appeared at the New Amsterdam Court before Magistrate Renita Singh where she was charged with the capital offence of murder.
The charge stated that the accused between Tuesday, May, 16, and Saturday, May, 20 at Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue murdered Andy Junor.
She was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison.
Bacchus will return to court on July 11 for report.
According to information gathered, on May 16, Junor, 43, was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after he began vomiting excessively. At the hospital where he eventually succumbed, it was discovered that the man had somehow consumed a poisonous substance.
Stabroek News was told that Bacchus before being arrested never reported her husband’s death to any police station but attempted to proceed with funeral arrangements, telling residents that the man had committed suicide by ingesting a poisonous substance.
However, after the police were informed by a relative of the matter, an investigation was launched during which Bacchus was eventually arrested and reportedly confessed.
Life sentences for child rapist reduced to 20 years
Finding that the judge who conducted his trial had not complied with sentencing guidelines, nor considered mitigating factors, the Court of Appeal has reduced to 20 years; the two life sentences which had been imposed on child rapist Mark Campbell.
The appellate court varied the sentences to 20 years on each conviction, but ordered that they be served concurrently.
Additionally, it reduced by half, the 30 years which the trial judge had ordered must first be served before Campbell is to be considered eligible for parole.
Back in 2017, a jury convicted Campbell of sexually penetrating a sixyear-old boy twice—during the month of September, 2011—and again on July 10th, 2013, when he was eight years old.
Justice Simone MorrisRamlall sentenced him to life in prison; underscoring the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, while noting the position of trust he would have breached by committing the act; and further alluded to the physical, psychological and emotional trauma which had scarred the children.
Campbell subsequently appealed, arguing that the sentences were too severe and that the judge did not consider factors in mitigation.
Reading the court’s ruling, acting Chancellor Yonette CummingsEdwards said that notwithstanding the state’s argument that the offence is both serious and prevalent, the court, in accordance with the legal authorities, must consider both aggravating and mitigating factors in arriving at a sentence.
Mitigating factors, the Chancellor noted, ought to be a guide, and must be shown to have at least been considered, though a court may in the final analysis conclude that no weight can be attached thereto.
She said that such factors must be considered, especially in the instance,
as with Campbell, he was unrepresented.
The appellate court noted from the case file, a seemingly remorseful Campbell begging for leniency.
The Court of Appeal was keen in pointing out, however, that the offences committed were no doubt of a grave nature.
In all the specific circumstances of the case, however, the Chancellor said that the reductions were warranted.
The appeal was heard by the Chancellor and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.
Campbell was represented by attorney Ronald Daniels; while the state’s case was represented by Prosecutor Teshana JamesLake.