Alex Douglas, the 50-year-old man who stabbed his common-law wife to death back in 2012, was on Thursday, sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime by Demerara High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall.
Douglas, formerly of Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), had appeared before Justice Morris-Ramlall on February 14 and pleaded guilty to a charge for the capital offence of murder.
He admitted that on October 14, 2012, in the county of Demerara, he murdered Allison Bowen, 42, a mother of three. He also pleaded guilty to wounding the woman’s sister who went to her rescue.
When given a chance to address the court, Douglas, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat, pleaded for mercy.
Allison Bowen
“I’m apologizing sincerely to the family, relatives, and friends of the deceased, especially her three children. It breaks my heart to know that the children have to grow up without parents. Your worship, I am sorry for everything that happened. I am very sorry for all the drama…I’m asking you, your worship for the maximum mercy,” the confessed killer said.
For her part, Justice Morris-Ramlall told Archer that she did not find his expression of remorse to be “genuine”. The Judge said that his actions were premeditated as he was already armed with a knife and was in the habit of physically and emotionally abusing his partner.
In the end, she sentenced him to life in prison on the murder charge, ordering that he becomes eligible for parole after serving 20 years. On the wounding charge, the convict was handed an eight-year prison sentence.
The sentences will run concurrently. Archer will attend anger management counselling while incarcerated. State Counsel Cecilia Corbin and State Counsel Caressa Henry appeared for the prosecution.
It was reported that Douglas and his wife shared a rocky eight-year relationship which was filled with violent episodes by Douglas.
On the day in question, Douglas and his spouse had a misunderstanding during which he attempted to hit her with a hammer. He instead butted her to her head leaving her forehead swollen.
He then left their home, and when he returned, he forced the woman to eat rat poison. When she refused, he whipped out a knife and stabbed her about the body before making good his escape.
Douglas was apprehended by Police the following morning while walking down Camp Street in Georgetown.
As Police ranks approached, he was seen putting something, suspected to be a poisonous substance, into his mouth. He was nevertheless apprehended and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment.