Mother sentenced for killing children

Joanna Danhai, who pleaded to manslaughter charges for killing her two children, was sentenced last week to 13 years imprisonment.

Justice James Bovell-Drakes handed down two jail sentences, 11 years and 13 years, which will run concurrently. Danhai was sentenced last Monday after a probation report was read to the court. The woman is said to have fed the children a poisonous substance sometime between August 30 and August 31, 2005. She was charged following police investigations and subsequently pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges last month.

Prosecutors Pritima Kissoon and Judith Mursalin presented the state’s case. Danhai, formerly of Farm, East Bank Essequibo, was first accused of murdering her two children: nine-year-old Keisha and seven-year-old Jamal. She was sentenced to 11 years for the killing of her daughter and 13 for her son.