Man gets nine-year sentence for killing 60-y-o mother

CASTRIES (CMC):

A High Court judge has imposed a nine-year jail term on Andrew Keagan Richardson after he was found guilty of murdering his Trinidadian-born mother, Dr Tonya Bennett, in 2009.

Justice Kenneth Benjamin imposed the sentence on Richardson after he pleaded guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter in the death of his 60-year-old mother, a gynaecologist.

An autopsy revealed the cause of death was asphyxia secondary to ligature strangulation and that Dr Bennett had also suffered multiple blunt force injuries, mainly to her head.

The court was shown footage from Bennett's home-security system and in February, Richardson's lawyer, Shawn Innocent, said his client pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

The defence relied on reports of two doctors, adding that there were no facilities locally to house the defendant where he can receive appropriate treatment.

But Justice Benjamin, while acknowledging the shortcomings of the institutions, noted that private treatment cannot be at the expense of the state.

Director of Public Prosecutions Victoria Charles-Clarke said while she agreed with the position, the convicted man needs to be punished for his actions.