Taxi driver Gavin Gill was on Friday sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years behind bars for the 2019 murder of his 20-year-old wife Omwattie Wazir-Gill known as ‘Anjalie’ whom he hacked to death on the Rose Hall Corentyne Public Road.
Gill, 34, of Whim Village, Corentyne Berbice was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court. He pleaded guilty to the capital offence which stated that on March 30, 2019, he murdered his wife at Rose Hall, Corentyne Berbice.
On Friday, a probation report was read in court describing the abuse the victim faced at the hands of Gill, especially when he was under the influence of alcohol.
The victim’s mother was expected to read her victim impact statement in court but broke down in tears as she took to the stands.
Gavin’s attorney Surihya Sabsook, during her plea of mitigation, described her client as a “respected and humble individual.”
Justice Kissoon, in her sentencing remarks, said that days before the victim’s death, she secured a protection order against Gavin after he threatened to kill her.
He also highlighted the degree of premeditation of Gill’s beastly actions towards the mother of his daughter. The judge described Gavin’s actions as “cruel and inhumane,” before he imposed the life sentence.
On the day in question, the mother of a then seven-month-old baby girl was riding her bicycle to work when Gavin struck her down with his motorcar (HC 4924).
He exited the car with a knife and proceeded to stab her several times about the body; he then armed himself with a cutlass and attempted to hack her head off.
A police patrol that was passing at the time caught the suspect in the act and arrested him. The young woman was rushed to the hospital where she subsequently died.
Police said the victim had sustained two laceration wounds to her neck measuring 9cm and 5cm, four laceration wounds to her head and one stab wound to the left side of her back.
The News Room had reported that two weeks prior to her death, Omwattie had separated from her husband due to his abusive behaviour and was staying at her mother’s home at Williamsburg, Corentyne Berbice home.
