Brakeman insists that it was an accident. He had said to the court in his mitigation plea: ?I never meant to shoot my woman. The best I ever had. She did not deserve to die ??

The fatal incident occurred on Saturday, November 20, 2004.

The allegations against Brakeman, who was a fisherman, are that he was at home with Gibson, a housewife, and three of her six children. After supper, he took out his .357 Magnum revolver and began playing with it, and somehow, Gibson was shot.

According to police, when they visited the couple?s residence at the corner of Baghdad and Alexandria Streets, they found Gibson lying on the floor. She had been shot in the left side of her chest.

Police later arrested Brakeman and originally charged him with murder, keeping a prohibited firearm and keeping unlicensed ammunition, but those charges never stuck, because, after the file was forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the DPP?s directives were that Brakeman be charged only with manslaughter by negligence and keeping a prohibited firearm.

Gibson?s family, who were present in court today, say they were disappointed with the Brakeman?s punishment.

At 10:00 this morning, Brakeman was ordered by Justice Adolph Lucas to pay a fine of $8,000 to the court, and $10,000 compensation to his six stepchildren for the loss of their mother.

Amandala spoke with a sister of Gibson, Agnes Humes, and her mother, Valence Fuller, 75, who both cried after hearing the result.

Valence felt that there was no justice given to them, because she believes that her daughter was killed in cold blood. It was no accident, said Valence.

And to make the pain more, Valence said that it appeared no one took into consideration the fact that her daughter was pregnant at the time, and that it was not only one life was taken, but two.

Before passing his judgment, Justice Lucas said that he looked at several factors before making a decision.

Brakeman had an ?immaculate? record, stated Judge Lucas. There were no previous convictions and he noted that the record showed Brakeman had cooperated with the police after the incident occurred.

He never tampered with evidence at the scene, further stated Justice Lucas, and court evidence revealed that when Brakeman had shot his ex-wife, he flung himself to the ground in shock. He has shown remorse, said Justice Lucas.

Brakeman was given until September 13, 2007, to pay the $8,000 fine, in default 1 year in jail. He was told he needs to pay the $10,000 by September 13, 2008.

Representing the office of the Director of Prosecution was Senior Crown Counsel, Merlene Moody. Brakeman was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvester, who is a representative of the Legal Aid office.