A Brooklyn Park man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Monday for stabbing his wife to death while their children were in the house.
Soman Thamby, 51, was sentenced to 30 years with all but 18 suspended for repeatedly stabbing Lesa Thamby, 35, during an argument at their Ballman Court town house last May. A month earlier, Lesa Thamby failed to show up to testify against her husband in a domestic violence hearing.
Thamby pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in May under a plea agreement. He must serve at least nine years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
“In this country and under our laws, there is no justification, even an affair if the person is married, that would permit one spouse to threaten or stab another,” said Anne Arundel Circuit Court Judge Philip Caroom. “As a parent, Mr. Thamby should have been aware [that his children were home], and that should have stopped him if nothing else would.”
Defense attorney Warren Brown argued Thamby accidentally stabbed his wife in an effort to prevent her from killing herself.
Caroom said evidence did not support Brown?s argument.
Thamby hung his head as he was sentenced.
“I want to see my father put in jail for life because he killed my mom, who was my best friend,” said Justin Thamby, 12, who held up a picture of his mother and witnessed the killing. “He broke my heart.”
Justin shook his head and turned away from his father as Thamby apologized.
“I?m extremely sorry for all the pain and suffering it?s caused everyone,” Thamby said. “I want to tell my three precious children that Daddy still loves you all.”
Justin and his 6-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister suffer from depression and nightmares, said Lesa Thamby?s sister, Tina Staley.
A Walgreens and hospital worker, Thamby faces deportation to India when he is released.
