Hill Foot Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Partner in 2022

August 12 2025

A Hill Foot, Soesdyke/Linden Highway resident has admitted to unlawfully killing his partner during a violent domestic altercation in December 2022.

Recently, 47-year-old Jason Kellman appeared before Justice Zamina Ally-Seepaul at the High Court, where he entered a guilty plea to manslaughter in the death of 43-year-old Umadai “Samantha” Lall.

The plea replaced an initial charge of murder.

The court has ordered several pre-sentencing reports, including a psychological assessment, a record of Kellman’s behaviour while in custody, and victim impact statements from Lall’s relatives.

Prosecutors, led by State Counsel Nelissa Peterkin with assistance from State Counsel Praneta Seeraj and State Counsel Christopher Belfield, will present aggravating factors.

Kellman’s defence attorney, Edrianna Stephen of Hughes, Fields & Stoby, will submit mitigating evidence and character references. Sentencing is set for August 29, 2025.

Investigators reported that the confrontation began after Kellman returned home from work and accused Lall of consuming alcohol in the presence of their young son.

The argument intensified, and Kellman admitted to repeatedly striking her in the head and face. He later claimed he was unaware of the extent of her injuries until finding her unresponsive the following morning.

Lall was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

An autopsy revealed that she died from shock and haemorrhage due to multiple blunt force injuries, with trauma to her face, chest, hands, and other areas.