BY BARBARA GAYLE, Staff Reporter
FORMER JAMAICA DEFENCE Force Corporal Michael Williams, 35, who sprayed a house with bullets from a submachine gun when his girlfriend refused to speak to him, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Williams injured five family members of his girlfriend, including a three year-old girl, during the shooting incident at Allman Town on December 12, 2004.
He pleaded guilty in the Gun Court on Monday to illegal possession of firearm and four counts of wounding with intent.
Attorney-at-law Arthur Kitchin in his mitigation plea, said the day before the incident, Williams had purchased an outfit for his girlfriend to go to her office party. She did not go with him to the party but went with someone else. He said Williams went to the house to speak to her about it but she refused to speak to him.
Mr. Kitchin told the court Williams was helping his girlfriend who had financial difficulties because he had to borrow money to help her repay $700,000 which she said someone gave her to keep but it was stolen from her.
Williams, a member of the JDF at the time of the incident, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearm and 15 years imprisonment each for four counts of wounding with intent. The sentences are to run concurrently so he will serve 15 years.
Williams' mother and other family members wept openly outside the courtroom when they heard the sentence. Williams is the father of four children ages two - 12 years.
Mr. Kitchin, in his mitigation plea, described the incident as a crime of passion.
Attorney-at-law Marjorie Shaw Currie is representing the complainants who are planning to file a civil suit.
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