News Room Guyana Reports | A teenage boy made an emotional plea in the High Court on Tuesday, urging Justice Priscilla Chandra-Hanif not to show mercy to Linden Benjamin, the man who brutally murdered his mother, 31-year-old Lisa Lucille George. Benjamin, 25, was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole only after serving 30 years.
The emotional request from George’s son came just moments before Benjamin was sentenced. “It hurts me. I want him to spend the rest of his life in jail,” the boy told the court, highlighting the profound pain of losing his mother, especially during the holidays.
Benjamin had previously pleaded guilty to the murder, standing before the judge in the Demerara High Court. During the proceedings, George’s sister, Lovern, also read a victim impact statement, expressing the continuing devastation the family faces. “My sister was loved. I want him to spend the rest of his life in jail,” she stated, hoping for justice.
When given the opportunity to address the court, Benjamin claimed he had suffered abuse from George and her relatives. However, when pressed by the judge about the events of the night of the killing, he failed to provide a coherent explanation. Prosecutor Darin Chan reminded the court that Benjamin had already confessed to stabbing George 25 times, arguing that his allegations did not alter the facts of the case.
Describing the murder as “savage and unprovoked,” Chan recounted how George had gone to bed with her children, only for Benjamin to later join them. Armed with two knives, he repeatedly stabbed her while she slept between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m., inflicting at least 25 wounds.
The attack occurred in the privacy of her bedroom and in front of her children. After the assault, Benjamin did not seek help; it was George’s father who had to stop him from leaving the room. Chan characterized the act as a betrayal of trust, noting that Benjamin had moved into George’s home shortly before the murder.
A post-mortem conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh confirmed 25 stab wounds, one of which penetrated the chest cavity to a depth of 10 cm. George ultimately died from shock and hemorrhage.
Justice Chandra-Hanif expressed concern over Benjamin’s demeanor during the hearing, observing that his parents displayed more remorse than he did. His lawyer, Beulah Williams, argued for potential rehabilitation due to Benjamin’s age and requested a deduction for time served. However, the judge rejected this, stating that his guilty plea seemed strategic rather than a sign of remorse.
The judge emphasized that George had no chance of survival and pointed out the serious issue of domestic violence, which has devastating effects on families.
Benjamin was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no time deducted from the sentence. The tragic murder occurred on April 26, 2023, at George’s home in Sophia, highlighting ongoing concerns about domestic violence in the community.
