Almost five years after the tragic stabbing of 21-year-old Vanessa Benjamin, a mother of two, Jamal Angus, 29, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for manslaughter. This ruling was handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon in the High Court in Berbice following Angus’ guilty plea to the lesser charge.
Angus was originally charged with murder in connection to the April 16, 2020, incident, which took place at Itacha Village, where Benjamin was staying with her mother. On the day of the attack, Angus attempted to persuade Benjamin to rekindle their four-year common-law relationship, but she insisted their relationship was over.
In a fit of rage, Angus armed himself with a knife and inflicted 17 stab wounds on Benjamin. Her 56-year-old mother was also injured in the attack but survived. Benjamin was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival; a post-mortem revealed that the stab wounds had punctured her heart and lungs.
Following the attack, Angus attempted to take his own life but survived and was subsequently arrested. He had been remanded in custody since his first appearance at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court in 2020.
During sentencing, Justice Kissoon highlighted several aggravating factors, emphasizing the ongoing crisis of domestic violence in the country. He condemned the “extreme and unrestrained violence” that characterized the crime, particularly underscoring the deliberate nature of Angus’s actions, which included unlawfully entering the home and actively concealing his intentions.
The judge noted that reports described Angus as a habitual abuser, a factor that further influenced the severity of the sentence. He also remarked on the lasting trauma inflicted on Benjamin’s family, particularly her young children, who are now left without their mother.
Justice Kissoon’s remarks serve as a reminder of the urgent need to address domestic violence and protect vulnerable individuals in society.
