Now she’s free

Erica Williams, a 24-year-old mother who attempted to murder her two-and-a-half-month-old son by throwing him into the sea and then attempting to drown herself, was yesterday put on a $10,000 bond by Justice Prakash Moosai to keep the peace for two years, or in default, serve one year imprisonment. He also ordered that she be placed under the supervision of a probation officer for two years and report to the officer once per month. If Williams fails to report on two consecutive months, she is to be brought back before a judge. In passing sentence, Justice Moosai said that an attempt by a mother to murder her child is one of the most heinous acts that  can be committed, but noted that because of the exceptional  circumstances of this case, he was not imposing a custodial sentence. However, he made it clear that other would-be offenders would not be so fortunate and would feel the weight of the law. 

He said this was a classic case of a country girl coming to town and giving up her Christian  values for the bright lights. Williams was the first person to benefit under the plea bargaining system by pleading guilty to attempted murder. Sitting in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court, Moosai said that the social inquiries revealed that Williams grew up in a strong neutering environment, and it was only when she left the stable environment of her grandparents in Claxton Bay in South Trinidad and came to Port-of-Spain, her life went from one extreme to the next. The court was also moved by the way Williams’ entire family had closed ranks around her and her immediate willingness to accept blame for her act. The court also spoke about the advantages of the plea bargaining system and complimented Williams’ attorney, Keith Scotland, and attorneys from the defence team, Nalani Singh, Sattie Lalla and Alexander Prince, for the assistance provided.

Scotland commended probation officer Pamela St Bryce, whom he said had shown such keen interest in the matter she had remained throughout the hearing and sentencing. On May 28, 2001, Williams, who lived at Sea Lots, went to a party nearby in spite of the expressed disapproval of her common-law husband Richard Springer. During the party, Springer went and called Williams, instructing her to return and take care of her child. She returned home, but in a rage hit Springer with a bottle, picked up her child, Akeem Springer, walked towards the sea and threw the child in. She then began walking further into the sea. A close family friend who was monitoring her, picked up the child and talked her out of committing suicide.
Williams said that she never intended to kill her child and was very sorry for what had happened.  She has since gone back to live in Claxton Bay.