Harmony Hall man arrested on suspicion of making bomb threats

More charges will more than likely be laid against Harmony Hall resident, Masud Horne, who allegedly made bomb threats to public buildings here last week.{{more}}

Horne, who appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday and told the court he was previously a patient at the Mental Health Centre, pleaded not guilty to four charges.

He was charged with giving Marilyn Thomas, a prison officer at Her Majesty’s Prisons, Fort Charlotte, information, to wit “There is a bomb up there to blow to (expletive) up”, the truth of which he did not believe, intending thereby to cause such person employed in the Public Service to devote her time and attention to the investigation of such information.

He was also charged with doing an act not authorised by law, to wit “There is a bomb up there to blow to (expletive) up,” thereby causing inconvenience to the public on the exercise of their common rights at Kingstown, at about 2:35 p.m. on January 14.

Horne pleaded not guilty to giving Rosie Adams, a filing clerk at the High Court, information, to wit “My name is Mr Horne. I am a part of Al Qaida group. We are planning to bomb your building and the bomb will go off any minute now”, the truth of which he did not believe, intending thereby to cause such person employed in the Public Service to devote her time and attention to the investigation of such information.

The fourth charge states, with doing an act not authorised by law, to wit “My name is Mr Horne. I am a part of Al Qaida group. We are planning to bomb your building and the bomb will go off any minute now”, thereby causing inconvenience to the public on the exercise of their common rights at Kingstown, at about 10:45 a.m. on January 14.

Despite pleading not guilty to the charges, Horne said he was “damaged” at the Mental Health Centre, which he gave as his reason for committing the offences.

“I was damaged. That was the cause of committing the crime. How are you going to send me back to a place where I was damaged? This is what made me do these things,” Horne said.

With widely opened eyes, Horne continued to speak to Chief Magistrate Sonya Young in a loud voice.

“The medication they gave me, it cause me to do these crime. I have been going there (the Mental Health Centre) since 1998. They are not dealing fair with me. They take me there illegally. That’s the nature of the damage that cause me to commit the crime…

“That’s a violation of my rights. I can’t come in here and defend myself under these medication. Why they say medications are not safe?”

As the magistrate attempted to speak, Horne continued cutting her off.

“You not getting the point, my Worship. That is my defence. I tried to stop taking my medication. You can’t send me back to the people them who damage me. Is life I’m going to have there…,” Horne said.

He further told the court that he lives on his own in his mother’s house.

“I was not sent to the mental home on a court order. These people need to do a lab test. I have rights too. They damage me and diagnosed me as schizophrenic. I am not crazy. They damage me. I was damaged. That is my defence,” Horne maintained, as several police officers stood around him.

Magistrate Young explained to him that she was going to ask an independent person to evaluate him and that she would be sending him to the Mental Health Centre for two weeks’ observation.

In response, Horne said, “You suppose to bring someone from overseas. Do the evaluation in court. I don’t want any medication. I will be drowsy. I wouldn’t be able to focus in court. These manufacturers tell you it is deadly. The law say is either you charge or discharge.

“I have to be convicted to be continued to be taken there. Could you tell them don’t put me on the medication when I go there. Please, let’s do it all together,” he added.

The magistrate then requested the services of forensic psychologist, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kamecia Blake-Byam in evaluating Horne.

“I’m going to also speak to the head of the Mental Health Centre to see what they can do. I have asked them not to give you any injections at the Centre, but your daily tablets, you must take,” Young said.

After his two weeks at the Centre, Young said she will decide what will happen then.

“When the person (ASP Blake-Byam) comes, I want you to tell her what you have told me.

Horne was then escorted out of the courtroom by police officers to the holding cell, where he spoke with ASP Blake-Byam.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating other bomb threats which were made to the Georgetown Hospital and the E.T. Joshua Airport.(KW)