[UPDATED] 'Choose your partner wisely'

Sheldon Williams was found guilty of killing his 5-year-old step-son Jamal Grant 11 years ago. On Monday at the Scarborough High court, the 33-page verdict was read by Judge Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds. She concluded that the infant was beaten to death by Williams while his mother was away on August 1, 2008.

In tears, Grant's mother Yurina Françios, a Venezuelan, pleaded with all mothers to use her son’s death as a warning to be careful whom they invite into their lives.

Francios, who has been living in Tobago for 19 years, told Newsday, “It wasn’t easy and it still is hard because even though justice was served, my son will never come back. Every year for his birthday and every August 1 it’s hard for me, but it takes courage and plenty strength to deal with losing a child.”

Francios said she took little pleasure from Monday's verdict.

“This end is nothing to feel good or bad about since you don’t expect the person you lived with and you leave to care your child to cause harm to him. It happened already, nothing has changed but I want to say to parents in general to choose your partner wisely, because what is most shocking about my case is my partner never use to drink or lime. I didn’t know who I brought into our lives.”

She encouraged single mothers to first become father figures for their children, before searching for partners.

She said she drank alcohol heavily for three years, trying to bury the grief and feelings of guilt. She lamented not paying closer attention to her child when he seemed depressed every time she returned from work on evenings. Francios said she would have never known he was being abused because he was willing to do anything to keep her happy.

“He would have never told me because he is that type of child that would feel mummy would be sad. He always used to say, ‘Mummy, I want you to feel happy.”

She described Grant as a child beyond his age, who was excited to begin primary school, before his life was snatched away. She also described him as respectful and pleasant.

While speaking to Newsday on Monday, Francios was chastised by friends and family of Williams as they left the court.

Judge Ramsumair-Hinds said she was satisfied with the evidence by pathologist Dr Eastlyn Mc Donald-Burris that the infant was beaten to death and did not die from a fall in the bathroom. She said she is of the belief the child was in good health when the mother left him at their Government House Road home and the injuries were sustained after.

She found the evidence and explanation by Mc Donald-Burris to be vivid as she was “able to see” the injuries and what transpired between Williams and the child on August 1, 2008.

In his version of the incident, Williams told police Grant fell in the bathroom and began vomiting before he lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead at the Scarborough hospital. Williams was subsequently charged for manslaughter after bruises on the abdomen, head and neck of the child were observed by Dr Hubert Dainsley as he conducted the autopsy at Scarborough mortuary.

The autopsy was immediately stopped and the body was referred to the Forensic Science Centre in Trinidad.

On August 4, 2008 another autopsy was performed by Dr Donald-Burris. The second examination revealed two external bruises: one on the left side of the child’s neck and another on the lower right side of his chest.

Internal injuries included two areas of bruising at the top of his head under the scalp; internal bruising in the neck; 240 ml of blood was discovered in the abdomen; severe bruising to the colon, near the lower part of the abdomen; and bruises to the liver and lower area of the lungs. There were no major injuries to the brain or skull, however she did mention that the brain was unusually swollen but there was no bleeding or lacerations.

Grant died of internal chest and abdomen haemorrhaging due to multiple blunt force traumas. Donald-Burris believed the child was injured by the impacts, which was caused by at least two blows to the abdomen made by a cuff, knee or heel.

She also said there were no findings to confirm that the child vomited, since nothing was found in the throat or bronchi (passageway to the lungs).

Ramsumair-Hinds was not satisfied with the defence statement given by witness pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes that the fall could have caused the death, since he did not examine the body and his evidence was speculation.

Williams was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on September 10.

This story was originally published with the title "Man found guilty of killing step-son, 5," and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Sheldon Williams was found guilty of killing his five-year-old step-son, Jamal Grant, 11 years ago. On Monday at the Scarborough High court, the 33-page verdict read by Judge Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds, concluded that the infant was beaten to death by Williams while his mother was away on August 1, 2008.

In tears, mother, Yurina François, a Venezuelan national, pleaded with all mothers to use her son’s death as a reason to be careful of who they invite into their children’s life.

She further told Newsday, “It wasn’t easy and it still is hard because, even though justice was served, my son will never come back. Every year for his birthday and every August 1 its hard for me but it takes courage and plenty strength to deal with losing a child."