Man guilty of killing common-law wife

Rudolph Lewis was convinced that his common-law wife was cheating on him, so he killed her.

Lewis, 29, of Questelles was found guilty on Monday, May 18, 2009 at the High Court in Kingstown of the murder of Marcia Agatha Quammie, 21, also of Questelles.{{more}}

A 12-member mixed jury delivered the unanimous verdict at 12:35pm.

In a statement given to police by Lewis, he admitted to killing Quammie on March 22, 2008. Lewis said that he did not know why she had to cheat on him and if he couldn’t be with her, no one else could.

Lewis said, Quammie told him that she was going to visit her sister in Evesham to spend some time and that she would return a week later. “I didn’t really trust she, because Antoinette (Quammie’s sister) always influencing her to leave me.” Lewis said his suspicions grew after the week had elapsed and Quammie did not return home. “My uncle call me and tell me that he see she (Marcia) with another man in town.”

Lewis mentioned that he even suspected Quammie of cheating on him when they previously lived at Bottom Questelles. He said that a man used to come to their house and offer her clothes in return for sex. “I know she head been kinda soft sometimes,” he stated.

The court also heard that Lewis admitted to concocting a story in order to get Quammie to leave her sister’s home and come back to Questelles. He said he went to Evesham and told Quammie that something had happened to one of their two children and that the doctor needed her to come to the hospital. Instead of going to the hospital, Lewis took Quammie home, stating that the child needed some clothes.

“When we reach home, I asked she wey she cheat pon me fa? So I hold she by she neck,” Lewis stated. He added that a struggle then ensued, resulting in them falling to the ground. “I mek ah mistake and the knife cut she, but the temptation was too great, so I stab she ‘bout three times in she chest.”

Police apprehended Lewis in the Gibson Corner area while he was travelling in a minibus. Lewis told officers that Quammie was the love of his life and that he was going to marry her.

Prosecution witness and sister of the deceased, Antoinette Campbell told the court that Quammie was spending time by her because she (Campbell) was not feeling well and Quammie had come to assist her. She further told the court that Lewis came to her house at about 7:45 am and urged Marcia to go with him to the hospital. “When she was leaving with him, she looked back and said Antoinette, come with me.” Campbell said she went to town about five minutes after Quammie left. While in town, Campbell received the devastating news of what had happened to her sister.

Delroy “Beenie man” Ottley, a 12-year-old student, told the court that he heard a commotion taking place at Quammie and Lewis’ home. Ottley said he heard Quammie say, “No, no, it’s not true! Don’t do that.” The youngster said he went and knocked on the door, pretending to be the police. Ottley said he shouted, “Police, Police,” before being chased away by Lewis. The youngster revealed that he saw Lewis exiting the house with a cutlass in his hand after locking the door.

Lewis will be sentenced on June 5, pending a Social Inquiry and Psychiatric report to be presented to the court on or before June 3, 2009. He was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Colin Williams, prosecutors Joezel Jack and Carl Williams led the crown’s case, while Grant Connell represented Lewis.(KW)