Fyzabad Man Gets Just Over 12 Years for Disguised Killing of Child’s Mother
Vishal Birju, who planned and carried out the fatal shooting of insurance agent Gabriella Amanda Dubarry inside her Fyzabad home in 2020, was sentenced in the San Fernando High Court after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
A Fyzabad man who disguised himself and carried out a calculated armed attack on the mother of his young son has been sentenced to just over 12 more years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Vishal Birju, also known as “Cousin,” appeared before Justice Trevor Jones in the San Fernando High Court on December 11 for sentencing in relation to the January 2020 killing of 28-year-old insurance agent Gabriella Amanda Dubarry at her Avocat Village home. Although initially charged with murder, prosecutors accepted a plea to manslaughter on the basis of provocation.
The court heard that on the morning of January 9, 2020, Birju carefully planned the attack. He dressed in black and concealed himself in a woman’s Islamic hijab to avoid recognition before arranging transport to the victim’s home. A PH driver later told police he dropped off a passenger dressed as a woman whose build and posture matched Birju’s.
At around 10.30 a.m., Dubarry’s mother, Mala Dubarry, opened a downstairs storeroom door and was confronted by the masked intruder, who pointed a gun at her and ordered her to get down. Despite the disguise, she recognised Birju’s voice. He then ran upstairs toward Gabriella’s bedroom.
As Mala fled the house screaming for help, she heard three gunshots. Birju was later seen calmly walking away from the area.
When Mala returned upstairs, she found her daughter lying in a pool of blood, partially dressed as she prepared for work. Gabriella’s infant child was also in the room, crying. Police later recovered spent .38 casings and a projectile, and a post-mortem confirmed that Dubarry died from gunshot wounds to her head and torso.
After the killing, Birju fled through nearby properties, discarded his disguise and firearm, and sought refuge at a friend’s home before returning to his own residence, where he was arrested later that day. He subsequently admitted to investigators that stress over being denied access to his son, resentment toward the victim, and family disputes drove him to arm himself and go to her home.
Justice Jones noted that the facts showed planning and execution rather than a spontaneous act. The court adopted a starting sentence of 28 years for manslaughter, reduced it by one year for mitigation, and then applied a one-third discount for the early guilty plea. After credit for nearly six years already spent on remand, Birju was left to serve a final sentence of 12 years and 23 days.
During the hearing, Birju apologised to his son and the victim’s family. However, Justice Jones warned against treating domestic disputes or jealousy
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