| A 42-year-old cane cutter who admitted to killing his former lover in a moment of jealousy was yesterday jailed for 12 years after appearing in the Berbice High Court before Justice Brassington Reynolds.The judge handed down the sentence on Shawn Tyndall, also called Arthur or Asha, of Manchester; Corentyne, Berbice, after seeing a probation report on the accused.Tyndall, a cane cutter of the Albion Estate, who lived with his wife Jonella Tyndall and two children, was on trial before Justice Reynolds and a mixed jury for the killing of his lover, Camille Medina-De Jonge, a weeder at the same estate.He was accused of murdering De Jonge in her bed between Sunday 24 and Monday 25 September, 2006. She was found with a wound to the neck at her Mc Gowan Street home in Manchester, Corentyne.Shawn Tyndall and Camille Medina-De JongeTyndall had changed his plea after a caution statement, which was challenged by his lawyer attorney at law Raymond Ali, was ruled admissible by the judge after a voir dire (trial within a trial).The cause of death was given as shock and hemorrhage due to a wound to the neck.A preliminary enquiry was conducted at the Whim Magistrate’s Court by Magistrate Chandra Sohan and a prime facie case was made out during September 2010.Prosecuting the case, attorney-at- law Rhondell Weever told the court that Camille Medina-De Jonge lived with her two children, aged seven and 10. On the day in question she took the children to a horseracing event nearby. They then bought ice cream before heading home.Prosecutor Weever stated that the accused visited the home some time after the children had retired to bed.An argument subsequently ensued between the two and after a scuffle, Shawn Tyndall stabbed De Jonge to the neck.The children upon arising in the morning tried to arouse their mother who was on the bed clad only in her underwear. After failing to awaken her, the children alerted a neighbour, who checked De Jonge and then summoned the police.De Jonge was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.The prosecutor stated that Tyndall was contacted on the September 25, 2006 at Manchester, Corentyne. The following day,China Jerseys Cheap, Tyndall gave a statement to the police in which he revealed that he and Medina-De Jonge had a relationship for over five years. Tyndall also stated that he had tried to hide the relationship from his wife.According to the statement, Tyndall and De Jonge went to a party at Rose Hall Town on Saturday, September 23. On Sunday, September 24, he gave De Jonge $4,000 because she wanted to go to the horse races. He also went to the races where he saw De Jonge. He and his friend ‘David’ drank, during and after the races.Tyndall told police that sometime between 21:00 hrs and 21:30 hrs, he and ‘David’, went to De Jonge’s because he suspected that she was home with a man named Ryan, since he had seen them together at the races.When Tyndall knocked at the door and De Jonge opened, he saw Ryan with only his shirt on, while Medina was clad in her underwear. According to the statement,Stitched Baltimore Ravens Jerseys, Ryan grabbed his pants and fled.The accused said that he confronted his lover about the incident and she responded that she was “her own big woman”. He claimed that an argument ensued and De Jonge went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. “Meli picked up a knife and David (Tyndall’s friend) held on to her. Me took away the knife and ah bore she on she neck. She fell down and the knife broke.”The probation report which was presented by Probation and Social Services Office Medford Ward stated that Tyndall was the sixth of 12 children. He grew up in average surroundings. He attended primary and community high school and dropped out at either second or third form.He worked first as a labourer before cutting cane at the Albion Estate. There he established a relationship with the Camille Medina-De Jonge, even though he was married. The report stated that Tyndall’s two children have been badly affected by his incarceration and his wife has since had to seek employment as a security guard.The children are receiving public assistance.The report stated that the accused was of good character and no one in his community spoke ill of him.According to the report, they were shocked to learn about his involvement with De Jonge and that he had committed such a crime.Tyndall’s wife and prison authorities also spoke well of him.Tyndall’s attorney,Fjallraven Kanken Backpack Sale, Raymond Ali, in a plea of mitigation referred to the Probation Report which spoke of his client’s character. He said that Tyndall was not the aggressor and noted that his client has been incarcerated since 2006 and asked the judge to take that into consideration.Pleading with Justice Reynolds to not make his client an example for the many domestic violence cases, Ali described the incident as an act of passion.And speaking to the court, Tyndall stated that De Jonge became pregnant for someone else during their relationship.He said he gave her money and took care of her two children. The accused said that he loved De Jonge very much, but his wife eventually found out about the relationship.However he claimed that he had no idea how De Jonge sustained her injury during her struggle with him.Prosecutor Weever in her submission stated that the situation that occurred on the fateful night could have and ought to have been avoided.She stated that notwithstanding what the accused said, he should not be perceived as the victim. The prosecutor stated De Jonge’s two children went to bed with their mother and woke up without one. She stated that only tragedy could come out of violence.Justice Brassington in speaking to the accused stated that all he heard was a pathetic tale of weakness in his ramblings to the court in which he asked for mercy.The judge stated that despite his lawyer’s pleadings not to make the accused an example, “the court must take into consideration that a life was plucked out at your hands. The court has a duty to perform and will be failing in its duty, if it does not impose a sentence that will have an impact on the wider society”.Justice Reynolds stated that this is a bad season of violence against women in Guyana. “You seem to be a simple gentleman who lost your way”. You were out of your league. You got into a game you were not up to. You got into something and had no skills to manage what you got into. You hung your hat where your hands could not reach. You must understand that you win some and you lose some”.The judge continued that in Guyana a lot of games are being played and weak men who cannot say no would continue to suffer. “You took upon yourself more than you ought to. The situation is very sad and a life has been wasted. No matter who she was with,Blake Swihart Jersey, her judgement day will come from a higher forum from above.”In imposing the 12-year sentence, Justice Reynolds stated that he had planned to send the accused way for a longer time, but took into consideration the Probation Report,Asics Shoes Clearance Sale, his lawyer’s pleadings, the time Tyndall has been incarcerated, his and the victim’s children,Air Max Saldi Online, and Tyndall’s pleas of remorse. |
