Herbert Johnson, 37, who admitted he brutally killed two little children, has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
On a charge of burglary he was sentenced to 15 years and on a assault charge he received a one-year sentence on Thursday.
When Johnson appeared before Justice Ricardo Marques on Feb. 10, he pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty of manslaughter, and the other charges.
Before sentence was passed, the judge asked whether the plea had changed. The judge said that according to a recent probation report, Johnson told a probation officer he had no involvement in the death of the two children. The report said that he only admitted guilt because he had been advised to.
“What is your position?” the judge asked. “The court does not want you to admit to something that you deny your involvement in. You should only admit to something if you knowingly did it,” Justice Marques said.
Johnson said: “I plead guilty to manslaughter.”
The judge asked him to tell the court what happened the night in June, 2000, when Jasmine Woods, 7, and her brother, Drexel Wilson, 5, were killed.
When asked by the judge what he did at the home of LaKeisha Woods, Johnson said: “I killed the children with a knife.”
He admitted breaking into the apartment and assaulting Mrs. Woods-Johnson when she confronted him.
“I am responsible for the deaths,” he said.
Once his evidence was recounted to him by the court reporter, he agreed to the facts of the case.
The probation report on Johnson said when he was interviewed he appeared irritable, easily distracted, and queried being questioned.
The report also said Johnson had a good relationship with his family and their children, and his troubles with the law began after he started abusing drugs and alcohol.
He was reportedly held at Sandilands Rehabilitation Center on seven occasions, escaped four times and was discharged twice. He was found to be a product of a dysfunctional home and one who avoided conflict by abusing alcohol and drugs.
“I’m sorry,” was all Johnson said before sentence was passed, but was little comfort to the mother of the children, who wept bitterly.
By Jimenita Swain, The Nassau Guardian
