In a tense, emotionally charged courtroom session at the No. 4 Supreme Court, Samantha Bristol delivered a raw, heart-wrenching victim impact statement this week, describing the unending trauma she has endured since her eldest daughter Samara was brutally murdered by her former boyfriend Roger Delisle Sealy in 2021. Sealy was formally found guilty of the killing of 30-year-old Samara earlier this year, with the crime committed between November 16 and 21, 2021, and the court is currently holding hearings to determine his final sentence.
Bristol, whose voice cracked repeatedly as she addressed the court, opened her statement by emphasizing that every waking moment is consumed by thoughts of her firstborn child. She shared that she had built a lifetime of plans around Samara, never once imagining that such profound violence and betrayal could enter their inner circle. “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,” she told the court.
Beyond the persistent, overwhelming grief, Bristol detailed the severe physical and mental health impacts that have upended her life in the years since Samara’s death. Recurring nightmares rob her of consistent sleep, while unrelenting headaches, constant anxiety, crippling depression, and persistent feelings of helplessness have become her new normal. Choking back tears as she questioned what justice would mean in this case, she stated: “What is justice? You still breathe. You have your family. You get to see another day. My Samara is gone.”
Bristol also used her time in the witness stand to amplify the voice of Samara’s teen daughter, reading a letter written by the 17-year-old that described the daily struggle of growing up without the guidance, love, and comfort of her mother. The young woman noted that this kind of loss and hardship is something no child should ever be forced to endure.
Sealy, a resident of Airy Cot, St Thomas, is being represented by defense attorney Sian Lange. The prosecution is being led by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC, with support from State Counsel Paul Prescod. Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell, who is presiding over the case, has scheduled the next hearing for November 3, when the court will hear formal sentencing submissions from both the prosecution and defense teams before issuing a final ruling on Sealy’s punishment.