A Stockfarm woman, who attempted to murder her new born baby by placing and abandoning the infant in her neighbor’s pit toilet, has been sentenced by the High Court of Justice.
Jachlena Spliffee received a five-year sentence, of which two years has been suspended for two years.
She will spend a total of two years and one month in prison as her 11 months she spent on remand at the state prison has been regarded as time she already served. Her sentence takes effect yesterday.
The incident occurred on May 18, 2006. The baby was discovered that night when Spliffee’s neighbor went to use the toilet and found the infant crying inside the latrine. The Fire and Ambulance department and police were alerted and the baby was taken to the hospital.
The defendant had pleaded guilty to the crime on November 23, and appeared for sentencing on Monday.
In presenting her sentence Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks read through the details of the case along with statements related to matters agreed upon by both the defense and prosecution. A social welfare report was also conducted.
The crime was said to be a serious one for which the sentence must reflect that.
The reports revealed that Spliffee was one of nine children who had gotten involved with the wrong company. She was also said to have been abused by her boyfriend. The incident had occurred when she was 20 and already had four children.
The prosecution was represented by Athlyn Nesty while Bernadette Lambert stood for the defendant.
ITs rather sad that these things happen, DNO should publish the individuals picutre so that it is public knowledge who this indivdual is…..
.. I know people that know people…. so what about the SAVE-A-LOT empolyee who gave birth in the job toilet….. Giving birth to a premature (featus) child… And living that feutus in the toilet,…. later own, going to Krazy Kokonut to see Jamaican artist perform….
There are alot of incidents like these taking place… society might be tight lipped, but in the streets…
when a woman does such things its a cry for help many women suffer, some can take it many cant, and thus the result, this woman cleary needs help and many more like her, but we will never realise this untill we stop the stigmatising
We must empathize with this woman. Do not blame her. Consider her background. A pattern was set by her mother and she may have inherited it. She could not help herself. Keep in mind God is loving and merciful.
She obviously may have a few problems, one of which is financial. She could not support the child and so she tried to do away with it. This does not exonerate her. However, she may not have been in her right mind. If she knew better she should have sought help from the government services.
From the beginning she should have been psychologically assessed. Is she normal, i.e., her mentality? I do hope that the Welfare Department will assist her while in prison and after she leaves prison. Given proper assistance she may go on to be a model person but she needs help in various ways.
I also hope the other children are well taken care of while she is in prison. Poor children.
There is no doubt that her baby is being taken care of. This baby should not be given up for adoption unless the mother gives her consent, no matter what she tried to do. Someone should foster her until they are able to adopt her through normal channels.
May God bless and protect those children and also their mother and guide her in the future.
I FEEL SORRY FOR BOTH PARTY. THANKS GOD THE
CHILD IS ALIVE THATS A MIRACLE CHILD. GOD
BLESS HE PERSON WHO IS TAKING CARE OF THIS
CHILD. FOR THE MOTHER WHAT SHE DID WAS VERY VERY WRONG, 20 YEARS FIVE BABIES ITS TOUGH,
BUT THROWING ONE IN A PIT TOILET MAKES MATTERS WORST. SHE DESERVES TO BE PUNISHED
FOR THIS ACT. GOD PLEASE HELP HER BECAUSE
WE DONT KNOW WHAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH.
I KNOW SHE MIGHT BE REGRATING WHAT SHE DID
MISS ASK GOD FORGIVENESS HE WILL FORGIVE
YOU HE IS A FORGIVING GOD.
Alas! How quick we are to condemn a sister yet we leave all the important questions unanswered. She had 4 children by the age of 20?? I mean common…that was a kid making kids. I was 20 when i gave birth to my daughter and though i’ve been a good mom..now that am 30 plus i can analyze how much i was not fully emotionally ready for a kid back then. She sounds like someone who needs HELP rahter than jail time. Does anyone even care to ask about the remaining children now that she is in jail? She needs help and instead she is thrown into a jail cell. How is that going to help her?? Not that i am condoning what she did but most of the times we do not fully comprehend a situation unless we are the ones who fall in it. Peace and I pray for guidance for all parties concerned!
Pleaseeee Listen to yourselves? She is not a murderer. She has 4 other children did she do anything to them? What was her state of mind? What type of support does the state give to such youn women? Do you know that the children do not belong to her but to the state? They punish her for wrong doing but for right doing she is not rewarded. How many murderers are walking the streets. Oh Justice where is thy face oh my people where is your reasoning?
who ask her to go mak four children? she should have learnt from her mistake with the first and maybe even the second. the sex is sweet but they never think of the reprecaution..every bull and ignorant things like that u people always looking to blame state.i dont understand these young people cannot take care of themself but want to just make kids like rabbits..young people give yourself a chance to grow..think with your heads and not the private parts.
They need the blessing and grace of God. This is to be expected when people keep their minds on sex rather than God. This is what they get for it. She could continue to have children since she is young. I do feel sorry for her.
i like to hear that, what was her state of mind,DID YOU ALL ASKED THAT FOR THE YOUNG MAN AT BELLES THAT HAS ESCAPED FROM PRISON!u all are really dame dominicans
Any psychological assessmentfor this woman? Don’t you think this would be necessary.
Yes, a crime was committed, but further probing and assessment must bbe carried out.
Surely, it would be interesting to know what was going on in this young lady’s mind, based on her actions. Was she going through postnatal depression or psychosis? Jail for that length of time is not necessary the answer!
Postnatal Depression/psychosis can occur at anytime after childbirth
Well said we tend to blame the young woman butwhat about the men that took advantage of her a psychologoit welltrainedis what she needs
I notice we have a new and upcoming group of lawyers, I hope they can make a difference because the bunch that we now have in Dominica leaves much to be desired, some are two face, some are just outright dishonest and some do not know what it really means to provide representation to a client.
I hope that these young lawyer hold true to the ethics that goes with the profession, and please please do not pattern on these lawyers, especially the seasoned prominent ones, souplay.
Athlyn, good luck and continue making mummy proud.
On the crime matter, this woman needs to remove her womb, before she have to continue making children and trying to kill them its better if she has none at all. I do not know how persons have the heart to do things like that, sometimes I just wonder boy.
I better you making your mommy proud by recommending a woman’s womb be removed?! roll eyes I see how proud your mom are of you guys. I wouldn’t be proud of children like you.
With a name like Jachlena Spliffee, what do you expect?! Jail her rass for life
Is she Dominican
lol lol yr right
All I got to say is these lawyers defense and prosecution are inexperienced. Lack luster arguments. I think people getting paid to put out the worst defense or prosecution out there and not even work hard to get a resolution to assist a woman with 4 children at 20 years of age. So she get out in three to Five years what happens then?
Maybe you need to give yourself a helping hand and stop try to tell people how to run their lives on here!
ON A ANOTHER NOTE, THE REASON WHY THE MATTER TOOK SO LONG TO BE CALLED IN THE COURTS IS BECAUSE OF THE RETARDED MEN AND WOMEN WHO PREPARE THOSE CASES AND THEIR TIME-LINES. THOSE PEOPLE IN THE COURTS ARE REDICULOUS. WHAT THEY SHOULD FOCUS ON THEY DON’T FOCUS ON IT. DOMINICA HAS A BUCNH OF RETARDS IN FIELDS THEY SHOULD NEVER BE IN SO THE COURT SYSTEM MUST RUN AS IT IS PRESENTLY, A RETARDED SYSTEM!
You are so right! A bunch of folks who have no buisness working cases. I mean any body can be a lawyer these days if this is the prosecutor!
I FEEL NO SYMPATHY FOR HER AT ALL. SHE’S AN EVIL WOMAN TO COMMIT SUCH WICKEDNESS TO SUCH AN INNOCENT CHILD. HER PRISON CELL SHOULD BE A PIT OF SHIT, SINCE SHE TRIED TO KILL THE BABY IN A PIT OF SHIT. WHAT IF THE NEIGHBOUR DID NOT COME OUT TO USE THE PIT THAT DREADFUL NIGHT. THE LAW CALLS THIS PUNISHMENT SHE’S RECEIVING A STIFF ONE? WHAT A JOKE! WELL I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOUR IDEA OF A LENIENT ONE. THAT JUDGE, THE JURY AND ALL INVOLVED SHOULD ALSO BE IMPRISONED FOR THEIR FOOLISH SENTENCING OF A COLD BLOODED MURDERER. WHAT KIND OF PERSON DUMPS A BABY IN A PIT? SHE’S AN ANIMAL. SAYING SHE WAS BEING ABUSED BY HER BOYFRIEND AND THAT SHE’S ONLY TWENTY YEARS OLD AND ALREADY HAS FOUR CHILDREN IS NO EXCUSE AT ALL FOR WHAT SHE DID. SAYING SHE GOT MIXED UP WITH THE WRONG COMPANY IS NO EXCUSE AT ALL EITHER. WE NEED TO STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THOSE ANIMALS IN HUMAN FORM, AND FURTHER MORE AN ANIMAL WOULDN’T EVEN DO ITS YOUNG SUCH EVIL. SHE’S A DEMON. THE WOMAN IS TWENTY YEARS OLD, AND ALL THE TIME SHE WAS SPREADING HER LEGS TAKING MAN, SHE KNEW WXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING. SHE HAS ALL HER SENSES TO KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG, SO THE COMPANY SHE FOLLOWS AND THE SO-CALLED ABUSE IS NOT TO BE BLAMED. WE ALL CHOOSE OUR PATHS AND WALK DOWN OR UP THOSE PATHS. SHE IS A GROWN ASS WOMAN, SO STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR HER. SHE’S EVIL, PLAIN AND STRAIGHT, AND SHE DESERVES A REAL HARSH PUNISMENT. IF NOT THE DEATH PENALTY, THEN LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE AT THE AGE OF 125YRS.
omg u killin me papa
I’ve known dis young lady all her life! Growin up she was always a lil rebel in school, but that could be due to a number of reasons. For one she is the youngest of 9 children who grew up widout a father. 2ndly, their mother always left them 2 themselves an be galavanting all over d place. Many of her mates didn’t like her, she was always in fights in school! With no father figure, or mother(who is dead now) to look over her, she did go dwn the wrong road! And we all kno tht to every action there is an equal reaction…I cnt blame her thts just the hands she was dealt..we cnt judge, we don’t know d woman state of mind! Only God really knew wat she was goin thru..am not sayin wat she did was rite but I tink she needs help, psychological help, not jail time ( thts just my opinion!
she should know to protect her self because it have family planning for that,at 20 she had four already please tell me what that does pass in some of our young wemen head
Exactly. I think Welfare or Planned Parenthood or Hospital or Whoever, should have given her a mandatory TL, after number 2 especially since she was so young, because of her situation. She should not have been allowed to bring more children into the world, knowing she can’t take care of them. I know that they ask you all the time, how many other children do you have? How many times were you pregnant, whether or not you bring forth the child. SO someone didn’t do their job, for this woman to be on Number 5! I have 2 children and I know I don’t want any more right now, so Family planning is my only option! For those of you who don’t know, besides the condom (safe sex is the best) but for those who like to say condoms give them allergic reactions, there are: Injections, Tubal Ligation (Tie Off), Pills, IUD, Patches,etc, make your choice. Even if you are not well to do, Family Planning located on Astaphans Road, can and will assist you to get something at a reasonable cost!
hi you see that mother gouvernment should take all the children away from her because she don’t deserve to have them,me I have three and I love them even more that life we do everything together when they not around me am sick please tell me what problem a young woman can have to carred a child for 9 month then throw it away?
Some women really wicked. You thnk it easy to go through childbirth? That pain is unforgettable, yet it is so easy for her to give birth all alone and throw away the child in a toilet? She woul dhave gotten more than that if I was the judge!
I agree at least 15 years…its attempted murder
peolple like should be ban froming kid. keep her lock up
Another Stacey Anthony and the rest, she need to keep her legs close or take birth control, cannot take care of kids at 20 is no reason, she should no take when she lay in bed with men unprotected she will get pregnant
Mrs Brooks if this is ya idea of a stiff sentence then i dont want to see what an easy sentence is! such a short sentence for a hideous crime!
True, that’s why alot of people get away with crime in Dominica.
Thank God the child is alive we need to keep the mom in our prayers.
Thank God the child is alive. God is still in control please people lets keep the mom in our prayers.
Our justice system REALLY need to step up. She needs to spend waayyyy more time in jail than what she is getting. Many of us would LOVE to have kids and can’t have and those that can, do not appreciate. thats a SHAME! I would LOOVVEE to adobt a baby. Eventually when the lord fits it right I will defentitely do that.
She could have given me the baby..I love babies..
I wish I had one all now so..Give me the baby please..
Is this woman a Dominican, the name do not sound like Dominican. I’m glad to know that the child is doing well with her adopted parents, may God continue to guide and protect her
My exact thoughts but you will be suprised by some of the names that show up in DA expecially if you go to some of the villages. Some folks have never met and will never be introduced to their fathers but the mom’s choose to allow them to carry the names of those men. WILD.
@ Occupy Dominica
It is not surprising. This was always the norm in DA. However, some of the men refused to support the children or disappeared when they knew the women were pregnant and the women were left all alone to nurture those children. Blame the men too for it takes two to produce a child or children.
There are many many people including myself who would love the opportunity to adopt; especially DA kids. Lets educate our young people during this tough time that mistakes will happen and we are willing to accept these babies as a society and provide them the opportunity for A LIFE. That would be a great project for the ministry of health in conjunction with the PLAN PARENTHOOD DEPT.Use this kid’s survival story as a model, we need more of that….
please for the child well being and safety i would not advise anyone who know the child and where she is to say anything about her where about and with who she is ok thank u she is indeed a princess i love this little girl. beautiful child indeed
is that the same story of the fireman who took the child from the latrine and her adopted her?
IT a sad story, Thanks god the child is alive, thanks god she didn’t throw the child in the pit.she still have some feeling. you seldom meet the child alive. she should never have kids again. we are not in her position, When you are abuse every thing becomes a problem. I pray god help her. and she will learn. She need love, truely she is mentally disturb.I think the other kids,should be remove from her care they are in danger.
the child was actually thrown down the hole
Its either something is terribly wrong with this story or something is extremely wrong with the justice system
Crime Committed on May 18th, 2006
Case called 66 months later.
Time spent on remand was 11 months.
Nothing is wrong with the story, as it is very much possible. Upon one’s first appearance in court for such an offense as serious as attempted murder, she would have quite naturally be remanded into custody pending further investigations, only to have been granted bail 11 months thereafter.
Given the current backlog, it should be quite understandable the reason for which a matter would have remained on the court’s list before being finally called up. I have known matters to remain on the least for 10 years before finally having been called up.
This is a very sad reflection on our society. I’m glad the child was saved and I feel sorry for the mother too.But, please explain to me why it took more than five years for this case to come to court??
That is so sad. I hope that this child has been adopted into a caring family.
Yes She has,and she is such a beautiful girl.
Oh, Thank God for such a remarkable result.
this child is gonna grow up to be a beautiful, very influential person. she is gonna be the PM one day….god has a plan for her….mark my words…to the adopted parents, please take good care of her……..
I agree that this child is gonna grow up to be some one special and GOD has a plan for her but to say that she is going to be the pm is taking the place of GOD.
Is God the PM?
this is a sad story. i feel 4 d young woman. we wonder y but only god knows wat this woman was goin thru at the ime she did that. i believe she has regreted what she did and we should pray 4 her. i am happy that the baby has been adopted.
there is a thing call CONTRACEPTIVE
Amen! Talk to the church about that.
Contraceptives are not 100%. If God wills one to have a child nothing can prevent that.
A joke dat man…..ok contraceptives not 10o% does the word abstain not familiar to her?…keep your damn legs close…20 years and 4 children??? after the second one she should be thinking of college, getting a degree doing something for herself chupessssss
i do not feel sorry for her, just for the child. So many people that want kids and cannot have, she should have left the baby in hospital or put it on church step. They don’t want kids so they can go all jam and carnival. She doh get enough jail
If you see that child now? Its a pleasure. We never know what our children are going to be. Cherish them, love them inspite of.
Ann-Marie job well done, keep it up!
HOLD ON .. ALL THEM YEARS AGO I HEARD THAT STORY NOW THAT DONE .. GEEZE ..