Mother describes daily grief at sentencing hearing for Samara Bristol's killer

Samantha Bristol told No. 4 Supreme Court she suffers nightmares and depression since her daughter's murder. Roger Delisle Sealy was convicted of killing Samara Bristol, 30, in November 2021.

Mother breaks down in court as killer of Samara Bristol faces sentencing

Samantha Bristol told the No. 4 Supreme Court, her voice breaking at points, that she thinks about her murdered daughter every single day and has not been able to escape nightmares, anxiety, and severe depression since Samara's death, Barbados Today reports.

Bristol was delivering her victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing of Roger Delisle Sealy, of Airy Cot, St Thomas — Samara's former boyfriend, who was convicted earlier this year of murdering Samara Bristol, 30, sometime between November 16 and 21, 2021.

From the witness stand, Bristol addressed the court directly: "I think about Samara every day, my firstborn. I had so many plans for us. Not once, not even the smallest thought that evil lurked among us. I am still in shock. I cannot believe that we were betrayed in the most vicious way. Samara did not deserve this. Her daughter did not deserve this. My family and I did not deserve this. I would not wish this pain on anyone."

Bristol went on to describe the physical and psychological toll her daughter's death has taken on her life. She told the court that nightmares regularly prevent her from sleeping, and that she also experiences headaches, anxiety, nervousness, severe depression, and feelings of helplessness.

Wiping tears from her eyes, she posed a direct challenge to the convicted man: "What is justice? You still breathe. You have your family. You get to see another day. My Samara is gone."

Bristol also read to the court a letter written by Samara's 17-year-old daughter, in which the teenager described how difficult it is to move through life without her mother's guidance and comfort — "something no child should have to experience," she wrote.

Sealy is represented by defence attorney Sian Lange. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC and State Counsel Paul Prescod are prosecuting the case. Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell is presiding and will hear sentencing submissions from both sides on November 3.

Source: Barbados Today