By Carlisle Jno Baptiste
Ishmael Hudson Vidal of Fond Cole, who pleaded not guilty to murder but “guilty to man slaughter” by way of provocation, has been sentenced to 14 years, 10 months, and 29 days in prison by High Court Judge Sejilla McDowall to take effect on March 23, 2026.
The incident took place in Pointe Michel in November 2016 at “Fete La Pwete where Vidal stabbed Kishroy Abraham of Morne Prosper, then aged 22 years.
Brief Facts
Both men were in the community of Pointe Michel, engaging in “Fete La Pwete on November 5, 2016, and persons saw Vidal with a knife in his hand saying, “I have to murder someone.” He was also involved in several verbal confrontations and again threatened to kill someone.
During the evening, he was in a confrontation with the deceased, but that was quelled. Again, he was spotted in another confrontation with the deceased, who then slapped him. It was at that point that he used the knife and stabbed Prosper in the neck. Prosper was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a medical doctor. Vidal was later arrested and charged by the police with murder; he also handed over to them the silver-bladed knife he used to commit the act.
A report from the probation officer explained that the impact of the death of Prosper was “profound and far-reaching to the family, who are still traumatized.”
The Officer went on to state that he has “demonstrated remorse for his actions, needs anger management, and can be rehabilitated.” Persons in the community of Fond Cole described him as “a troubled youth who has no family support.”
Sentencing
In handing down her sentence, Justice Sejilla McDowall stated that although the deceased “slapped” Vidal in public, which was “embarrassing,” the actions of the deceased were “not extreme.”
The defendant, she stated, was “confrontationally, armed with a knife and professed that he was going to kill someone that night, and so it happened.” She was also listed as aggravating his drinking behaviour in full view of the public at a public event. However, she was quick to point out that the delay in the trial is of “grave concern” to the court since the matter happened in 2016 and he was committed to stand trial in 2025.
“The wheels of justice are not working well, the systematic delays are unacceptable, such a trial must be held between 2-3 years as opposed to 10 years…families are affected, and the accused has a constitutional right, such delays in the system cannot be justice.” She listed the delay of ten years as a mitigating factor. She then used a starting point of 30 years and increased it by 3, bringing it to 33 years because of the aggravating factor. She gave no credit for good character.
For mitigating, she said he should show remorse, is seeking spiritual renewal, willing to help others, and fully cooperated with the police, bringing the sentence down by 3 years to 30 years. She also gave him the 1/3 credit, which amounted to ten years, bringing it down to 20 years. He has also spent 5 years, 3 weeks, and 5 days on remand, bringing his total to 14 years, 10 months, and 29 days to now serve.
“I am happy that you are much more tempered, you seem to have forgotten that a life has been lost…you now have to deal with that issue behind the prison walls. You need to grow up, you took a knife to a public fete, you took a life,” the Judge stated.
She ordered counselling, which must be completed while in prison, and a report must be submitted to the court two weeks after completion. “You need help to manage your life,” she told him.