98 years jail for mother who killed children

A 25-year-old woman was on Monday afternoon sentenced to 98 years imprisonment by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court for killing her two children by instructing them to ingest a substance used to kill rats.

Hofosawa Awena Rutherford of Supply Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara was found guilty by a 12-member mixed jury on two counts of manslaughter, whereby it is alleged that on March 27, 2014, at Lot 10 Supply, Mahaicony, she unlawfully killed her son – 16 month-old Jabarie Ajoya Cadogan –  and her four-year-old daughter Odaceia Juliana Cadogan.

Before sentencing, Rutherford begged Justice Singh for mercy. She was represented by  Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, while Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Abigail Gibbs and Shawnette Austin appeared for the State.

The State contended that on the day in question, Rutherford killed her children by giving them a poisonous substance to ingest. Jabarie Cadogan died while receiving treatment at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital. His sister later succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital.