Appeal Court upholds wife killer’s 24-year sentence

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years’ incarceration someone can be reformed and return to society to make valuable contributions.

Declaring the sentence imposed upon Pilgrim as not being excessive, Justice Persaud said the interest of the public was paramount to the court.

The court had taken issue with the defence’s reference to the loss of life as “unfortunate,” while noting that it represented a “cold and callous” disregard for life, especially given that the scourge of domestic violence is on the rise.

“Having reviewed the sentence, we do not find that it was wrong in principle or that it was manifestly excessive,” Justice Persaud said.

While the court affirmed the sentence, however, it did grant remission for the two years Pilgrim had spent on remand awaiting trial.

As a result, it ordered that the sentence be seen as having commenced from July of 2011, when he was incarcerated, and not from December 12th, 2013, when he pleaded guilty.

The judge said that there was nothing from the record to suggest that this deduction had been made, while noting that remission must be granted as a matter of law and not be left to the judge’s discretion.

Apart from Justices Bulkan and Persaud, the appeal was also heard by Justice of Appeal Rafiq Khan.

According to reports, Loncke was stabbed in the head by Pilgrim after a domestic violence argument turned violent.

She succumbed to two stab wounds about fifteen minutes after being rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital in an unconscious state.

Her daughter had sustained a small bruise to the left side of her face during the attack.

A wanted bulletin had to be issued for Pilgrim, who was captured several months later in Suriname, after a report of assault was made against him.