Shot girlfriend dead, Brakeman fined $18, 000

He pled guilty to causing death by careless conduct on Wednesday for the shooting of Irene Gibson in 2004 … And today punishment was meted out to Lloyd Brakeman … in the form of fines: eight thousand dollars to be paid by September thirteenth, 2007 or in default one year in prison and a further compensation of ten thousand dollars for Gibson’s three surviving children. The payment to the siblings is to be made by September thirteenth 2008.

According to Justice Adolph Lucas, he took into consideration that Brakeman had a clean record, cooperated with the police, and showed remorse over his common-law wife’s death. Lucas told Brakeman that he hopes he communicates with people that you should never play fast and loose with a firearm.

Brakeman was originally charged with murder, which was reduced to manslaughter by negligence and then pleaded-bargained down to causing death by careless conduct. The thirty-one year old Belize City man was allegedly playing with a revolver that he thought was empty and in the process put the gun to a pregnant Gibson’s chest and squeezed the trigger, its single bullet killing her. During trial Brakeman begged for forgiveness, saying that he never meant to hurt Gibson. Brakeman was defended by Anthony Sylvestre Junior, while Crown Counsel Merlene Matute prosecuted.