Husband of murdered attorney expected to be charged, still being treated

Danae Hyman, Online Reporter

The husband of attorney-at-law Nordraka Williams-Burnett who allegedly stabbed her to death at their home in West Kirkland Heights, St Andrew last week is yet to be charged as he is said to be undergoing treatment for schizophrenia. 

A senior investigator associated with the case today told The Gleaner that the Jamaica Defence Force lieutenant is expected to be charged with murder and placed before the court.

The court is expected to determine if he is fit to enter a plea.

The senior cop further said that investigators are yet to compete their question and answer session with the suspect due to his mental state.

According to him, the suspect told investigators that “voices" told him to attack his 34-year-old wife.

Meanwhile, criminal defence attorney Bert Samuels explains that as part of the court proceeding, the suspect, if charged, will be assessed by a medical expert to determine his mental state at the time of the crime.

Samuels said based on the outcome of the assessment the charge of murder may be reduced to manslaughter or he may be deemed unfit to enter a plea and remanded for further treatment.

"There are two things that can be used to decide his fate, that is, is he fit to plea or if he is not fit to plea. If he is not fit to plea then the trial cannot commence as well as the concept of diminished responsibility which would reduce the murder charge to manslaughter if the suspect was not in control of their conduct at the time of the incident," Samuels explained.

However, the senior investigator told our news team that "we will be going for the higher charge which is murder and leave it to the court to decide, following his psychiatric evaluation, if he needs a lower charge."

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