More than six years after a mother of six was murdered inside her Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara home, the man responsible has been sentenced to 25 years behind bars.
Terrence Jackson received the sentence from Justice Sandil Kissoon after he was convicted of the January 23, 2020 murder of his estranged wife, 44-year-old Somattie Keosoram.
Jackson was represented by attorneys Glendon Greenidge and Joshua Benn, while the prosecution was conducted by State Counsel Cicelia Corbin and State Counsel Rodley Mattoo.
The court heard that Keosoram was fatally attacked during an altercation at her home on the night of the killing.
She suffered numerous stab wounds and a slashed throat in an assault that unfolded in the presence of one of her teenage daughters, who was 16 years old at the time.
Although relatives rushed her to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.
A subsequent post-mortem examination confirmed that she died from multiple stab wounds.
Jackson left the scene immediately after the attack but was arrested by police the following day after he allegedly attempted to end his own life by hanging.
He was later charged with murder and remanded to prison after appearing before the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court.
Following the completion of preliminary inquiry proceedings, a magistrate ruled that the prosecution had established sufficient evidence to require him to answer the charge before a judge and jury at the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
Evidence presented during the case showed that Jackson and Keosoram had shared a long-term relationship that had deteriorated amid allegations of domestic violence.
Keosoram had separated from Jackson about three years before her death and moved into a home at Cane Grove with her children in an effort to rebuild her life.
Despite the separation, prosecutors said Jackson continued turning up at the property and had begun staying there again shortly before the killing without Keosoram’s approval.
The fatal confrontation occurred after Keosoram reportedly demanded that Jackson leave the house.
Investigators said the disagreement escalated into a violent attack, ending with Keosoram’s death.
