Drug accused throws bag at court reporters

Security concerns for journalists performing duties at court have once again come to the fore following an incident outside the Serious Offences Court this week.

On Monday, July 3, Romaul Benn, a resident of Green Hill, and Martin Alonzo Velez Velasquez, a national of Colombia, both appeared at the Serious Offences Court jointly charged with possession of and intent to supply 31,099 grammes of cannabis to which they both pleaded not guilty.

A heated exchange erupted between the Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne, and Benn where the accused reportedly shouted at the Magistrate. He was ordered to be removed from the court and placed in the holding cell on the outside.

After the case was adjourned and the two accused were ordered remanded into custody, court officers escorted Velasquez to the transport vehicle in the car park, while Benn was retrieved from the holding cell.

Two court reporters, one male from SEARCHLIGHT and one female from IWitness News began to photograph the Colombian national as he arrived outside the court. As Benn was being moved toward the police transport vehicle he launched the bag containing personal belongings, including shoes and clothes at the journalists forcing them to dodge the missile. The bag narrowly missed hitting the SEARCHLIGHT reporter in his head.

Benn shouted at the journalists telling them they had no permission to photograph him while resisting the officers who were trying to move him to the waiting vehicle.

A report was filed at the Central Police Station, and additional charges are expected to be laid against Benn for his conduct outside the court.

In February this year the SEARCHLIGHT Editor, Clare Keizer and Executive Editor of IWitness News, Kenton Chance, put their concerns about threats and aggression toward their court reporters in writing in a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Colin John.

In the letter, the Commissioner was asked to address the situation urgently; to date no serious action has been taken.