BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE sentencing hearing of murder-convicted Wycliffe Liburd began Thursday (Sept 24) with a poignant presentation to the court by his mother Gwenneth Williams.

After his conviction of the April 18, 2008 murder of Charles ‘Abaloo’ Matthew, trial judge, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle deferred Wycliffe’s sentencing until psychiatric evaluation and social enquiry reports were compiled and presented to the court.

Liburd’s mother, as informed by his counsel Vincent Warner, was willing to speak on her son’s behalf before the court proceeded to sentence him. She spoke lengthily of the trials and tribulations endured during the time that she was involved with Wycliffe’s father; with whom she bore five children.

She explained in detail that for the duration of the relationship she had with his father, Paul ‘Rocket’ Liburd, she was subjected to bouts of violence and abuse at his hands.

She spoke of her initial contact with Paul, who was her uncle’s mechanic, and had reason to “come around” from time to time. After they became involved - during her mid-teenage years - she realised that his way of life was not wholesome. Nonetheless, she bore three of his children before migrating to St. Maarten where Wycliffe and his older sister were born.

“I was abused and beaten,” Williams explained and further noted that the abuse took place in the presence of Wycliffe. 

After being struck by the realisation that the life she was living was unhealthy for her and the children, Williams said she made the decision to leave Paul and return to St. Kitts, which she did.

Paul, she said, also returned to St. Kitts and the episodes of violence and abuse continued although she was no longer involved with him. She said notwithstanding that she was “very, very strict” with her children and endeavoured to raise them “in a Godly home”, Wycliffe succumbed to his father’s negative influence.

Williams explained that when Wycliffe went to live with his father at the age of 10, he “started getting in trouble” and her efforts to visit and or speak to her him were frustrated by his father. 

During Wycliffe’s youth, he had reason to reside at the Harris’ Home and, according to his mother, while there, his father “never visited him” but she did so every weekend”. After his stint at the Harris’ Home, which was destroyed by fire in 1998, Williams said he went back to live with his father, where he was exposed to more violent and abusive behaviour.

Wycliffe is no stranger to the Federation’s courts and has won an appeal for one of the crimes for which he was convicted. His mother explained to the court that after he won the appeal, Wycliffe approached her in a very emotional manner expressing to his realisation of the need to turn over a new leaf. She said she advised him to keep a low profile and keep to himself in his quest to turn his life around. His response, she explained, was, it would be difficult to do so when the authorities are always looking for him and having kept to himself he would have no alibi to free him of any accusation.

While Williams says she sympathises with the family of the late Charles ‘Abaloo’ Matthew, she still does not believe that her son committed the murder.

“Deep in my heart I still am not convinced that Wycliffe killed that young man.”

She begged the court to “show some mercy and leniency” on her son, adding that she believes he is a good candidate for reform should he be granted the opportunity to return to society. She spoke of Wcliffe’s childhood dream of becoming a lawyer and believes that if he applies himself that dream could come true.

Wycliffe’s sentencing hearing is scheduled to continue on Thursday, October 1 at the Basseterre High Court of Justice located at the Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore Judicial and Legal Services Complex.