Seven years for manslaughter

An Arima man was yesterday sentenced to seven years hard labour for the manslaughter of his brother-in-law by Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal High Court. Calvin “Carlos” Thompson, 35, of Tumpuna Road, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Clifford Le Blanc, 45, at Tumpuna Road, on September 22, 2000. Thomas and Le Blanc lived at the same house, which belongs to the Thompson family. State prosecutor Dinanath Ramkissoon presented evidence indicating that the two men got into an argument. Thompson then asked Le Blanc to leave the house. Le Blanc said he would leave in the morning yet Thompson continued to argue. A struggle ensued and Thompson took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Le Blanc. Le Blanc received two stab wounds and two cuts. He died as a result of a stab wound to the heart. Justice Soo Hon declared, “Respect for human life is now a thing of the past.”

She added that “the taking of your brother-in-law’s life is indeed a heinous act”, and she was unable to find any “exceptional circumstance” that would cause her not to impose a custodial sentence upon the defendant. Before passing sentence, Justice Soo Hon said she also took into account six factors favourable to the defence. Firstly, Thompson pleaded guilty to the offence and did not seek to pursue a course of lies. Secondly, he had no previous convictions and his attorney, Israel Khan, stated he was not predisposed to violence. Thirdly, the attack took place in the kitchen where Thompson took a knife which shows he was not pre-armed. Fourthly, when Thompson was arrested by the police he immediately showed remorse by saying, “Boss, I real sorry. I get plenty lash.” Fifthly, a medical examination showed that Thompson sustained injuries, including nasal bleeding and a fractured nasal bone as a result of the struggle. Sixthly, Thompson already spent two years and six months in jail for the offence.

However, Justice Soo Hon added that a young man of 45 with a profession, a wife and child had his life “snuffed out”. The judge told Thompson that though the deceased told him he would leave the house in the morning, he continued to argue. Thompson’s sister told him to behave himself yet he persisted in continuing with the argument. The judge stated that Thompson was “out looking for trouble” and she would not be able to place him on a bond as his attorney requested. As the judge passed sentence, a woman in the back whispered, “Thank you, Jesus.”