Man gets 20 years for the death of his mother

When Carlysle Collis could not get his cutlass, he broke into the house of his wheelchair bound mother and savagely beat her to death.{{more}}

For his heinous actions, Collis was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Wednesday, February 9, 2009, at the High Court, after pleading guilty to causing the death of Bertha James on December 24, 2008.

Collis, 45, who appeared before Justice Frederick Bruce-Lyle, on Tuesday, February 8, was initially charged with murder, but changed his plea to guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter.

The facts read out in court stated that the 76-year-old retired nurse was at her home in Walvaroo when her son came and demanded entry into her house for his cutlass.

When Collis could not gain entry into the house, he broke four of the windowpanes and smashed the locks on the door. While inside, Collis punched his mother in the face causing her to fall out of her wheelchair and onto the floor.

Whilst on the floor, Collis continued his vicious punching attack and also slapped her about her face.

She managed to telephone one of her daughters for help. James was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where she died the following day.

At the sentencing hearing, it was revealed that Collis had a history of frequenting the Mental Health Centre. He also has 15 previous convictions of a similar nature.