Man jailed 12 years for killing

MARAVAL RESIDENT Her-man Villareul was yesterday sentenced to 12 years in jail for killing his supervisor in May 2002. Villareul, 30, of La Platte Village, Maraval, had originally been charged with murdering factory supervisor Ronnie Roberts. However, when the matter came for hearing on Wednesday, he entered a guilty plea to the charge of manslaughter.

In passing sentence yesterday, High Court Judge Malcolm Holdip expressed his concern for the loss of appreciation for the value of human life and pointed out that it should be noted that sentence is to punish, reform or deter. Sentencing is also aimed at maintaining public confidence in the court and to show abhorrence for crime.  Holdip further stated that society must be satisfied that the court would deal with violence and  did not lose appreciation for the heinousness of taking a life.

He also noted that the community is entitled to have this sort of conduct denounced and as such, he was imposing a 12-year sentence.
Villareul, who was represented in the matter by attorneys SC Osbourne Charles and Ian Brooks, was charged with stabbing Roberts during a fight between the two men at their workplace, Interior Harmony Factory, at Pioneer Drive, Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain on May 29, 2002. Roberts died while being treated at the PoS General Hospital. Attorneys Nalini Singh and Sati-Maragh-Lalla represented the State in the matter, which was heard by Justice Holdip in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court.