Mother, son sentenced over fatal stabbing

A mother and son have been ordered to serve prison terms of 29 years and 194 days, and five years and 62 days respectively, after being convicted over the death of the woman’s boyfriend Gregory Adams in Cave Hill in 2020.

Shonette Vanessa Williams was convicted of murdering Adams at their Lower Bridge Gap home on October 18, 2020.

Her son, Calvin Osbourne, was found guilty of manslaughter. 

Williams and Osbourne’s starting sentences of 35 years and 10 years respectively were reduced for mitigating factors and time already spent on remand. 

Noting that the case was not a death penalty case and did not warrant a whole-life sentence because of the facts and circumstances, Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell said there was no doubt that a custodial sentence was warranted.

She highlighted the loss of life, the joint attack, the use of a cutlass by Williams and a knife by Osbourne, and the number of injuries inflicted as aggravating factors. She also noted that the initial attack, carried out by Williams, was unprovoked, as Adams had been sleeping when she struck him with a bottle.

During sentencing, the judge gave an extensive outline of the psychiatric and psychological reports on the convicts’ relatives, noting in particular that Williams has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and severe complex post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of having been in a number of abusive relationships before dating Adams.

Justice Smith-Bovell said: “Based on the evidence it is clear that this unfortunate incident rests on the shoulders of the now-convicted woman. The evidence showed that during the night of the incident she was the person who was being aggressive. It was not disputed that the deceased had struck her in the face but she also became aggressive with the girlfriend of the driver of the car and threw a plate of food at her which ultimately led to her being put out of the car. 

“From the evidence it appears to the court that the now convicted woman went home and became more enraged when she saw the accused in his bed sleeping. So, as he lay sleeping, she attacked him in the bed, striking him with a bottle and injuring him. 

“Despite efforts from her son to de-escalate the situation, she continued to be aggressive, throwing bottles at him, which then caused the deceased to retreat to the bedroom where he got a knife, presumably to defend himself, and the situation further escalated which led to his death.”

But the judge acknowledged that Williams could have been psychologically triggered by the events of that night and Adams’ threat that he was going to treat her in the same way one of her previous boyfriends had.

She said: “While ordinarily the starting point would be 40 years for the objective seriousness of the offence of murder, the court is of the view that due to the circumstances of this case, the appropriate starting point should be 35 years.”

Regarding Osbourne, the judge noted the lack of premeditation on his part, his attempts to de-escalate the situation and that there had been some element of provocation as he had acted in defence of his mother.

The judge continued: “Given the evidence, at no time were you the aggressor as you tried to dispel the dispute a number of times and even tried to restrain your mother, but unfortunately she did not heed your warning. 

“The court is of the view that the exposure of the now convicted man to domestic violence for most of his life and the threat uttered by the deceased to his mother was particularly provoking. Based on circumstances, the court is of the view that 10 years is an appropriate starting sentence.”

Justice Smith-Bovell ordered that both mother and son enrol in rehabilitation programmes while in prison and that Williams continue the medical regimen under the orders of psychologists and psychiatrists.

Defence lawyer Sian Lange represented Osbourne, Williams’ defence attorney was Peta-Gay Lee-Brace, while acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC and State Counsel Paul Prescod prosecuted the case.

(JB)