Bagotville wife killer appealing 80-year prison time

Convicted wife killer Miguel Barker has filed an appeal against his 2018 conviction for the murder of his wife eight years ago. He has maintained his innocence and is understood to have lodged

appeal papers with the Court of Appeal in Kingston, Georgetown.
This appeal is fixed for hearing/ further directions on August 10 at 09:30h.
On January 29, 2018, Barker called “Allan”, 34, was convicted of killing Donessa Barker, called Vanessa, after a mixed 12-member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict in his favour.
He was subsequently sentenced to 80 years’ imprisonment by trial Judge Navindra Singh.
The convicted murderer and his late spouse Donessa had shared a rocky relationship, which included extensive arguments, multiple allegations of infidelity, and reported physical violence.
Things escalated on the evening of April 29, 2015, when Miguel dropped a knife after threatening his wife late that night, and climaxed the following afternoon when he was seen jumping out of the window after stabbing the woman to death.
The 29-year-old mother of one is said to have died from incised wounds, and it was proven that she was stabbed in the chest. Donessa’s cause of death was given as hemorrhage and shock due to stab wounds to the chest. She had received six stab wounds.
On the night of the crime, the Barkers were reportedly heard arguing prior to the stabbing at the Inner Bagotville, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home where they had been living.
Persons had attempted to rescue the woman, and had rushed her to hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries. Her husband had however fled the scene and was found just days after at Sophia, Greater Georgetown. Prior to the woman’s demise, the couple had been married for two years.
In sentencing the killer, Justice Singh commenced at a base of 60 years and added 10 years for premeditation and another 10 years because the case involved domestic violence.
When given a chance to address the court, an expressionless Barker had said that he was “sorry for what happen,” but continued to profess his innocence, stating that he did not kill his wife.
The prosecution’s main witness, Shaneiza Clarke, with whom the couple had been residing, had testified to rushing to Donessa’s aid and seeing Miguel jumping throw the bedroom window after stabbing his wife. She had recalled Miguel looking straight at her, before making good his escape, leaving his badly wounded and bloodied wife.
Hours before Donessa was killed, Clarke had recalled accompanying her to the Police station to make a report about Miguel threatening her (Donessa) the night before with a knife. After the sentence was announced, the woman’s relatives were seen sobbing and consoling each other. (G1)