Describing an attempt by Trevor Creft to murder his former common-law wife in 2009 as a horrific case of gender-based violence, a judge yesterday sentenced him to ten years in prison.
“Women must be treated with respect at all times. Anything short of that and those who cannot control their emotions will feel the full brunt of the law,” said Justice Maria Wilson, presiding in the San Fernando Third Assizes.
Saying a strong message has to be sent against such actions, Wilson noted in recent times in T&T there had been numerous reports in the newspapers about women in particular, being killed by current and former partners and spouses.
“Such acts in my view amounts to extreme cases of domestic violence,” she said, adding people must stop resorting to violence to resolve their issues.
In this matter, however, the victim, Tricia Anthony, was deemed as a hostile witness, as well as her mother and brother, after they claimed not to recall the incident on June 19, 2009.
Anthony, who received a disability grant because of an injury to her right hand inflicted by Creft, told the probation officer she had forgiven Creft who was a good father and she pleaded for him to be set him free.
State prosecutor Mauricia Joseph was force to rely on their statements from the preliminary inquiry at the magistrates’ court and their police statements to prove the case.
Creft, a security officer from Fyzabad, was found guilty by a jury on March 23.
Anthony, then 21, was stabbed in the neck with a seven inch knife when Creft attacked her at her mother’s home in front of their two-year-old son.
Anthony lived with Creft for a year-and-half but left him because he was physically abusive and often threatened to kill her and her family if she went to the police.
Recalling the evidence, the judge said Creft called Anthony telling her he wanted a $100 because he lost his wallet in a taxi. When he arrived at the house, Anthony came downstairs handed him their son and went back upstairs.
When she came back and was handing him the money, he grabbed her hand pulled out a knife from his waist and grabbed her neck. She fell to her knees while her son stood on the side of Creft.
She grabbed on to the blade and he pulled it away. She was then stabbed in the neck and cut several times.