San Juan man gets 12 years for killing woman

A SAN JUAN man, who was described as a victim of societal abuse, was yesterday sentenced to 12 years in jail for causing the death of Maraval resident Marilyn Pollonais in November 1999. Keegan Samuel, 25, was initially charged with murder but on February 12, he entered a guilty plea to the lesser count of manslaughter. The matter was then adjourned for sentencing. In passing sentence in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court yesterday, High Court Judge Rajendra Narine pointed out that he had given consideration to the defence’s plea in mitigation and the fact that Samuel had shown remorse by pleading guilty to manslaughter.

He said, he had also taken into consideration the amount of time that Samuel had spent in prison while awaiting trial. However, Justice Narine pointed out that a custodial sentence was necessary due to the prevalence of the crime as well as to protect others. Justice Narine stated that Samuel was a victim of societal abuse who had been abandoned by the education system. He also noted that there was little or no social support for persons who had fallen through the cracks of the education system. He pointed out that it was essential to retool such a person with a skill in order for them to make a positive contribution to society. He stated that he could not help but feel sympathy for the accused, but noted that the court had to consider the seriousness of the offence. The facts presented by State attorney Jerron Joseph was that Samuel had gone to Pollonais’ home to rob her and while in the bedroom of the Burmont Flat, Maraval house, on November 29, 1999, a struggle ensued between them. During the struggle, Samuel hit Pollonais on the head with a fire extinguisher, tied her up with cord and a bed sheet, then fled the scene with her Nissan Bluebird car. Samuel eventually crashed into a wall at Picton Road, Laventille.

During the investigation, Samuel’s fingerprints were found on the fire-extinguisher and a wooden door at the house. He was interviewed by Supt Fitzroy Frederick on March 23, 2000, where he admitted to being at the house, hitting Pollonais with a “red thing” and fleeing the scene in the vehicle. During the plea in mitigation, defence attorney Pamela Elder asked the court to be lenient with her client since he had a hard life. She explained that Samuel had a poor upbringing and that he had turned to a life of crime at an early age. She also told the court that Samuel had dropped out of school at the age of ten and had started to wander the streets. He was later sent to the St. Michael’s School for Boys and had left at the age of 18.