Couple gets ten years for manslaughter

ESTINA Bedassie, 20, broke down and sobbed as a San Fernando Judge sentenced her and her boyfriend Rocky Mohammed to ten years imprisonment each, for the unlawful killing (manslaughter) of former PNM MP for Pt Fortin and Junior Finance Minister, Roy Richardson. In imposing the custodial sentence, San Fernando Third Assizes Judge Malcolm Holdip said he took into consideration the numerous petitions and recommendations made on behalf of the accused couple, but was still compelled to impose the sentence because of the way in which Richardson lost his life.

Justice Holdip added that he hoped Bedassie and Mohammed completed their education while serving their sentence in prison. The judge said the couple’s guilty plea was evidence of their remorse for the act. In making his decision, Justice Holdip said he also took into account the Probation Officer’s report, which stated that the couple “acted out of character.” Richardson, who was also a former Deputy House Speaker, was found dead at his Point Fortin home on a date unknown between May 31 and June 3, 2001. He was stabbed five times in the chest and beaten on the head.
The couple were charged with murdering Richardson, 78, but pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter on November 4. This plea was accepted by the State. Bedassie was represented by attorney Gilbert Peterson while Prakash Ramadhar and Brian Dabideen were counsel for Mohammed. Brahmananan Dubay represented the State in the matter.