Family outraged at lenient sentence in killing of Ann Mendonca

Dear Editor,

On April 2nd 2019, John Hetsberger pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Subsequently, I learnt that on April 5, 2019 he was sentenced to ten years, from which the time spent in custody (5 years) will be deducted. I am writing to express the scepticism and outrage felt by our family at several aspects of this case.

On Friday, August 8th 2014 while my mother, Ann Mendonca, was in her kitchen, he entered through the half-opened back door and hit my mother on the head, using a metal bar from our kitchen, strangled her and placed a plastic bag over her head.

First, John Hetsberger (then 18 years old) confessed to the police that he murdered my mom (57 years old) in the manner described above. Therefore, reducing the charge from murder to manslaughter needs a proper explanation.

Neither me nor my family was ever given even a phone call or visit to alert us that the matter was called in the High Court despite many attempts to find out when the matter would be heard.  I even visited the DPP’s office towards the end of last year and was told that I would be contacted early in March—which never occurred.  

No family or close friend was there in court to represent my mother.  From reading  the newspapers and social media (which carried another woman’s photograph), the only reason offered by the defendant for his action was to tarnish the good name of my mother by a lie stating that my mom was well-known as a “spiritualist”, had done “something” (Stabroek News) or “works” (Kaieteur News) to his father that caused his death.  This slanderous declaration seems to have been concocted long after he had voluntarily confessed to the murder of my mom. No doubt being the outspoken and fearless person that she was she would have confronted him when he forced his way into our home.  

My mom was well-liked and respected by all who knew her. She was a spiritual person and attended her Christian church, not a ‘spiritualist’. On the other hand, Hetsberger’s father, who lived next door was known by all neighbours as a disreputable person who eventually was responsible for his own death by falling over his own veranda  after a long quarrel with his second wife,  the step-mother of John Hetsberger – after coming home late from drinking.    

Hetsberger’s reward for ‘not wasting the court’s time’ seems to be an unjustifiably short sentence while memories of the victim are now tainted by lingering questions of what ‘really happened’ between her and the defendant’s father. 

Neither I nor my family was given an opportunity to have closure in the matter by simply being allowed to witness the sentencing. (But is there ever ‘full closure’ especially when a life is so tragically taken away?)  I was not given an opportunity to look at the person who murdered my mother in the eye before he was carried away to prison; the next time I might see him is when he is free. This is both disrespectful and callous especially since I waited so many years for justice.

I believe that the lenient sentence requires an explanation especially when the judge in question is known for harsh sentences. Also, I want it to be clear that neither I nor my family believe in excessive sentences and we are not calling for one in this case. My mom didn’t like the death penalty and members of my family and I don’t believe that taking another life to fill the absence of a loved one is ‘getting justice’.  Nor are we questioning the remorse of the young man which commanded so much attention in this case.

Again, I was not given the opportunity to see him break down in tears nor apologise to me for the wrong he did.   My family and I are concerned that my mother’s reputation not be stained by her killer.

Yours faithfully,

Gregory DeSouza