Woman accused of killing reputed husband freed

Alexis Turpin

Alexis Turpin, who is accused of killing her reputed husband, was on Wednesday deemed a free woman after being found not guilty of a murder charge.

Turpin, formerly of Lodge, Georgetown, was on trial for the capital offence before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a 12-member mixed jury in the High Court.

She had denied the charge, which stated that on July 2, 2016, she murdered Sherwin Johnson.

Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Turpin’s lawyer, Damien Da Silva, made a no-case submission on her behalf.

The no-case submission was upheld by Justice Barlow, who subsequently directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

Turpin and her lover, Sterfon Barlow, 39, were initially tried for the man’s murder last year. But after the jury returned hung, they were further remanded to prison pending a re-trial.

Further, in March 2021, Barlow appeared before Justice Brassington Reynolds and pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, admitting that he unlawfully killed Johnson.

He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Reports are that Turpin and Johnson shared a child and lived together at Chapel Street, Lodge, Georgetown. It was reported that Johnson arrived home on July 2, 2016, and found Turpin in bed with another man.

A heated argument ensued between the parties, which escalated into a fight. During the ordeal, Turpin and the other man reportedly dealt Johnson several stabs about his body with a knife and crowbar.

Following the incident, Johnson was hospitalised, and Turpin and the man were charged with attempted murder. However, after the man succumbed to his injuries, the charge against them was upgraded to murder.