KINGSTON, Jamaica — Norman Tomlinson has been sentenced to seven years in prison at hard labour as part of a plea deal for manslaughter in the death of noted former journalist Peter Abrahams, who was 97 years old.

Tomlinson, 63, who was the husband of Abrahams’ domestic helper, had pleaded guilty on July 24 and was sentenced on September 26.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the plea agreement set out that on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, Abrahams sustained multiple blunt force injuries from which he later died.

Police investigations led to the apprehension of Tomlinson on February 17, 2017, the ODPP said in a release today.

“He was interviewed by the police and gave a Cautioned Statement indicating that Abrahams’ death was an accident. He further told the police that he was at the home of Abrahams on January 18, 2017 and whilst there, they had an argument over the use of a credit card which the deceased had given to Tomlinson.

“Shortly thereafter, he pushed Abrahams’ wheelchair and this caused Abrahams to fall and hit his head. There were no other witnesses to the incident,” the release outlined.

In conducting the sentencing exercise, the judge took into consideration the plea agreement with the recommended sentence of seven years, the antecedents of Tomlinson, the Social Enquiry Report prepared and the plea in mitigation by his attorney, the ODPP said.