Mitchel Israel found guilty of murder of Cuban wife

Guilty of murder was the verdict returned for a man who killed his wife in 2020 outside their son’s school, despite his claims that he did not deliberately or intentionally shoot her.

A 12-member jury deliberated for two hours and 25 minutes before returning the guilty verdict, sometime around 6:40 pm on August 16.

Mitchell “Mitch” Israel must now wait until October 13 to learn what would be his sentence.

High Court judge Rickie Burnett, after adjourning the summation on several occasions, on Wednesday, August 16 refreshed the minds of the jury with the evidence that had been presented during the case.

However, after a late start, at least two lengthy breaks, and later, the noise from heavy rainfall forcing interruptions, Burnett concluded his summation at 4:12 pm.

The jury then opted to deliberate despite a request from crown counsel Richie Maitland for the deliberation to be adjourned to the next day.

The 61-year-old was standing trial in connection with the daylight shooting of his wife, Arianna Taylor Israel who was gunned down at Kingstown Park on January 30, 2020.

The deceased was a Cuban born nurse who had moved to St Vincent and the Grenadines where she worked at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. She was shot sometime after 3 pm in the vicinity of St Martins Secondary School where one of their sons was a student.

Burnett summarized evidence from the prosecution’s two key witnesses who testified to seeing a struggle between the couple before the woman was shot.

Their recollections however differed when it came to the details. One witness said that the woman was swinging a bag at the man and she grabbed hold of his gun, while the other mentioned seeing the woman fall and the defendant standing over her and shooting.

However, when one witness was cross examined by defence counsel Linton Lewis, this witness said he could not remember much of what transpired which caused concern for the lawyer.

One of Israel’s co-workers also testified that later that afternoon, he saw the Israel’s vehicle approaching and Israel told him “You will hear about me in the news this evening or in the morning.”

He said that Israel also mentioned that he had given his wife “six shots” as he was “fed up”.

The co-worker also said he did not have a close relationship with Israel so he found it strange that Israel had told him that.

Defences of provocation, self defence and issue of accident were also placed on the table when Israel took the stand to give his version of what transpired.

Burnett summarized that Israel drove to the school and while he was in the vicinity he saw his wife, who began walking towards the vehicle.

She was on the phone and he asked her if she did not work that day, but she did not answer.

He said he then touched her on her arm and told her that they needed to talk.

She did not respond and he tried to get her attention, but she was still on her phone and she then hit him with the phone.

Israel said as she was coming down to hit him again, he grabbed her hand and they started to wrestle and pull. At this point, he said his gun belt was moving freely around his waist as he had lost weight.

He said the gun moved from side to side to his groin and as he tried to move it back to his side, she grabbed onto it.

Israel claimed that they were both pulling when a shot went off between his legs and the pulling and tugging continued during which another shot went off.

He said she was holding on to his hand and he slipped, but she was still upright.

He pulled and his wife pulled back and a shot went off and she came towards him with her weight and stumbled on him.

He then took up the gun that was between them, walked towards his vehicle, sat down, then slowly drove away.

Part of the prosecution’s case was that Israel had motive to kill given the evidence of his co-worker, who he told that he was “fed up”. However, while Israel admitted to having a conversation with that co-worker he denied mentioning this to him.

He also claimed that he did not intentionally nor deliberately shoot his wife as she was holding on to the gun and his fingers were not on the trigger.

He a told investigator Sergeant 740 Duncan during a caution statement that he was in an “uncomfortable” position with his wife as they had been arguing all the time for over three weeks.

The morning before the incident occurred, Israel said that around 4:30 am his wife and children were sleeping and a space was created for him. His wife got up, ironed clothes and he asked if she was going to work, but she did not answer.

He tried to get her attention and then he later told her not to prepare any lunch for him.

She then told him “let the rats you have down the road prepare it for you.” And he replied asking what rat she was speaking about and she said, “ all the girls you bring in the house.”

She later requested money and he told her he would go to the ATM.

The prosecution was led by DPP Sejilla Mcdowall and Richie Maitland and assisted by Kaylia Toney, while counsel Linton Lewis and his daughter Maffica Lewis appeared for the defence.