Man who promised to marry child killer has wife in NY

Justice Herbert Volney may want to know tomorrow exactly how American citizen David Williams  plans to marry Michelle Thomas, who pleaded guilty to killing her two-year-old son, while he is still  married and his wife and children are waiting for him in New York. Williams had told trial judge Justice Volney last week,  that if Thomas, who pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, is freed, he plans to marry her and take care of her here in Trinidad. He said that he was also aware that she needs medication. However, Agrid Williams, also called Ingrid, said she is the wife of Williams and has been for the past 18 years, and was shocked when she read Friday’s  Newsday story in New York,  about her husband wanting to marry and take care of Thomas. Agrid said: “If that’s what he wants to do then I coming to give him a divorce. He has no respect for his wife and children — he even referred to Thomas as his fiance while he is still married.”

Agrid, who lived in Trinidad before her marriage in 1987, said that a friend in Trinidad had alerted her about the Newsday story. Williams migrated to the USA some 39 years ago. The couple was married in Trinidad on July 11, 1987. They have two children together, Abenaa, 20, and Abigail, 15, and live in Brooklyn, New York. When Agrid met her husband he was already living in the US and she later took up residence there about 14 years ago. She said she knew about her husband’s relationship with Thomas, because he told her, and had further admitted that he was in love with her. That was about three years ago. The couple had planned to separate but decided to remain in the same house. However, some time later, Agrid said her husband confessed he had made a mistake and wanted to keep the marriage. That’s why they were shocked to hear his outburst of love for Thomas  in court.

In a plea in mitigation, Williams, 54, a plumbing supervisor in the USA,  told Justice Volney that he had been giving support to Thomas since the day she was charged — going to court and visiting her in prison on her birthday and special occasions. He said: “If she is released, I plan to get married and take care of her. I plan to stay here and take care of her.” Tomorrow, Rose will continue with her mitigation, after which Justice Volney is expected to pass sentence. On December 6, 2001, Thomas, 37, stabbed her son Zion to death at their Phase Four, La Horquetta home. Thomas is being represented by attorneys Margaret Rose and Krishna Doodnath while the State prosecutor is Alexander Prince.