Another messy day in court

The behaviour of some prisoners at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court in recent times has left a foul taste in the mouths of persons working there.{{more}}

Just last year, two prisoners smeared themselves with faeces before escaping police custody; another man did the same last Thursday, March 8.

This time the man was Grafton McDowall.

McDowall had appeared at the court on a charge of unlawful possession, to which he pleaded guilty.

He was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

While seated on the prisoners bench, McDowall began complaining to police officers that he wanted to be taken to prison.

He then asked to go to the washroom, and was taken there by Police Officer 597 Pierre.

After using the facilities, McDowall is said to have opened the door, and began approaching Pierre holding faeces in his right hand.

SEARCHLIGHT was informed that Pierre blocked McDowall’s right hand and struck him over his head with a baton. However, some of the faecal matter found itself on Pierre’s hat.

The prisoner again attempted to approach Pierre, who struck him again with the baton.

McDowall is said to have run back into the washroom to hide, after smearing the walls.

McDowall then managed to gain entry to Senior Magistrate Donald Browne’s office, by breaking through the sheet rock that separates the Magistrate’s office from the public washroom.

Browne, who was in his office at the time, shouted to the police for assistance, but by that time, the prisoner had made good on his escape.

Prosecutor at the court, Inspector Glenford Gregg, told SEARCHLIGHT that something needs to be done with prisoners committing such offences.

“I think this is really getting out of hand. If something is not done soon, they will only continue to do what they are doing,” Gregg said.

He is also of the view that the prisoners seem to be targeting Magistrate Browne’s court only.

“I know they would not try that upstairs (Serious Offences Court)…,” Gregg stated.

McDowall was subsequently caught and brought before the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, March 13.

He was slapped with three charges, including Assault on PC 597 Pierre, damage to property and escaping police custody. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

In August 2011, Denver Oliver, a 36-year-old resident of Calliaqua defecated in full view of everyone in the courtroom of the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court.

Oliver then soiled himself with the faeces before smearing the walls and furniture of the court. He then exited the courtroom and fled the scene.

When caught, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for escaping lawful custody.

Joe Bobb was the next man to leave the court in a mess. Literally!

On Monday, August 29, 2011, Bobb, a resident of Kingstown, was at the time in court on charges of theft and robbery when he asked to use the washroom.

While in the washroom, Bobb requested some tissue paper from an officer who was standing guard. Upon the officer’s return, it is alleged that that Bobb attempted to throw faeces at the officer who then closed the door to protect himself, leaving the prisoner inside the washroom.

Bobb then climbed through a small window in the washroom and made good on his escape, not before leaving the washroom in a messy state.(KW)