Woman bonded for killing son

When Michelle Thomas appeared before Justice Herbert Volney at the the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court yesterday morning, she was placed on a bond of $2,000 and ordered to keep the peace for two years on the condition that she report to the Arima outpatient clinic on the third Thursday of every month for the duration of her sentence. In default, she will return to court for sentencing.

Thomas, of Phase Four, La Horquetta, had been charged with the murder of her son Zion, but pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The 37-year-old woman had stabbed the child to death at their home on December 6, 2001.

Following a mitigation plea by her attorney Margaret Rose, Thomas had been committed to the mental hospital for evaluation. Prior to yesterday’s sentencing, a psychiatric report was submitted to the court by Consultant Psychiatrist attached to the Forensic Unit of the mental hospital Dr Hazel Othello and Medical Chief of Staff Dr Ian Hypolite.

Both agreed that Thomas did not present a risk to society and was suitable for release, providing she attended the outpatient clinic and continued to take her prescribed medication.