Nicholas Shawn Williams, commonly called “Dhall Back,” was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing his estranged wife, 28-year-old Clarabel Johnson.
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court, following Williams’ acceptance of a plea deal on a lesser count of manslaughter charge.
Williams, initially charged with capital murder, saw his sentence reduced from an 18-year starting point.
Mitigating factors led to a three-year reduction, while his early guilty plea further reduced the sentence by one-third, bringing it to 10 years. The court also ruled that his time in custody since October 2020 would count toward his sentence.
Dead: Clarabel Johnson
The case, which saw the judge considering reports on probation, prison conduct, and victim impact statements, reached sentencing after Williams pleaded guilty earlier this month. Justice Barlow weighed aggravating factors presented by the prosecution and mitigating arguments from the defence before finalising the sentence.
Represented by attorney Kiswana Jefford, Williams faced a prosecution team that included attorneys Praneta Seeraj, Mikel Puran, and Rabina Christmas.
The fatal incident took place on October 6, 2020, in Albouystown, Georgetown. It was reported that Williams confronted Johnson near her Cooper Street home and inflicted a severe wound to the back of her right knee with a sharp object, severing an artery.
The injury caused significant blood loss, and despite efforts to save her, Johnson succumbed to her injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Williams fled the scene but was later apprehended by law enforcement on James Street, Albouystown. At the time of the attack, Johnson, a mother of three, had been living with her parents following a separation from Williams due to reports of abuse.
Williams, who ran a bicycle repair shop in the same community, had allegedly continued to harass her even after their separation.
