A 40-year-old tradesman from Cedars, St. Vincent, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the manslaughter of his former partner following a violent altercation in Kingstown. Eldon Charles, also known as Max, received his sentence from Justice Rickie Burnett at the High Court after changing his plea to guilty on October 30, 2025.
The tragic incident occurred on February 4, 2023, when Charles fatally stabbed Altavea Billingy, known as Tavea, during a physical confrontation on Grenville Street. The court heard that the altercation began when Billingy crossed the road to confront Charles after noticing him following her and her friends.
According to evidence presented, the two had previously been in a relationship that ended before the fatal incident. Police had previously assisted Billingy in retrieving her belongings from Charles’ residence during their separation.
On the day of the killing, both individuals had been at Canash/Blue Lagoon Beach, where Charles expressed his desire to reconcile, which Billingy explicitly rejected. Later, both parties traveled back to Kingstown in the same van.
The situation escalated when Billingy noticed Charles following her group near Yankee Chicken in the Little Tokyo area. After crossing the road to confront him, a physical struggle ensued during which Charles produced a switch-blade folding knife. During the altercation, Billingy sustained a single stab wound to her abdomen while attempting to grasp the weapon.
Tragically, the incident was witnessed by a six-year-old child who was part of Billingy’s group. Police officers arriving on the scene observed Charles placing an object into his pocket before Billingy collapsed. The knife was subsequently discovered in his possession.
Despite being rushed to Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Billingy was pronounced dead at 11:13 p.m. Pathologist Dr. Ronald Child determined the cause of death as internal hemorrhage resulting from a 1.5 cm penetrating stab wound.
Justice Burnett established an initial sentencing benchmark of 18 years, considering aggravating factors including weapon use and the presence of a child witness. The sentence was reduced due to mitigating circumstances including Charles’ lack of premeditation, previously clean criminal record, and timely guilty plea.
With credit for time already served in remand—2 years, 11 months and 17 days—Charles will serve an additional 9 years and 14 days in prison.
The social impact of the crime was highlighted through a victim impact statement from Idor Billingy, the deceased’s mother, who described her enduring anguish and the profound effect on her family, including grandchildren now in her care.