Mom committed for sentencing

A 22-year-old Sea Lots woman was yesterday committed to the High Court for sentencing after she told Port-of-Spain Magistrate Ejenny Espinet under caution she was guilty of attempting to murder her six-month-old baby boy, Akeem Springer, on May 28, 2001.

Erica Williams, of Pioneer Drive, was committed for sentencing under the Indictable Offences (Preliminary Inquiry) Act No. 20 of 1994. This Act gives a Magistrate the authority to commit persons re paper committal (statements presented to the court by the prosecution), and also to commit for sentencing. Williams’ committal for sentencing came after State attorney Alexander Prince and defence attorney Keith Scotland made a plea bargaining agreement on November 28, 2002. It is the first time in legal history plea bargaining has been used in this country, sources at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has said.

The plea agreement between the prosecution and the defence was made under three conditions, (1) recommendations for non-custodial sentence for accused, (2) an agreement not to oppose a request by the defence attorney for the accused for a non-custodial sentence, and (3) an agreement that a non-custodial sentence is appropriate for the disposition of the case. When the matter comes up at the Port-of-Spain High Court, Williams will appear for sentencing and not trial. It is there that the plea agreement will come into effect. Baby Akeem, now two years old, was rescued from the murky Sea Lots river on the morning of May 28, 2001 by soldier Timothy Grant. After yesterday’s hearing, Magistrate Espinet, sitting in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrates’ Court, granted the accused bail in the sum of $30,000.