Scarface killed

Anthony ‘Scarface’ Hamilton made his final court appearance today.

Hamilton, in his forties, was reportedly shot and killed by police during a routine visit to the washroom situated on the lower floor of the building{{more}} that houses the Kingstown Magistrates Court and the Serious Offences Court in Paul’s Avenue, metres away from SEARCHLIGHT offices.

Two weeks ago, Hamilton appeared before Chief Magistrate Sonya Young at the Serious Offenses Court on the upper floor, on robbery and assault charges, and was remanded in custody.

He returned today for a further remand hearing, but was escorted to the washroom by two police officers, on a ‘bathroom break’, when he was shot.

SEARCHLIGHT was informed by persons in the vicinity that sometime after 10 a.m., they heard loud bangs coming from the vicinity of the Magistrates Court, which is currently on vacation, then saw employees and police exiting the building.

Senior Magistrate Young, along with other lawyers and police officers who were at the Serious Offences Court quickly rushed to the scene, and the incident led to an unscheduled adjournment of the day’s sittings.

Word quickly spread surrounding the shooting, and in a matter of minutes, the area was crowded with curious spectators, along with various sections of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force enforcing crowd control, and conducting investigations.

Hamilton’s body was removed from the building shortly after midday.

In 1998, Hamilton was convicted on two charges of rape and aggravated burglary and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Shortly after his release, he was detained and charged for alleged threats made against Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and other public officials; that case was thrown out.

On April 28, allegedly armed with a cutlass and a knife, Hamilton was accused of robbing Carlos Bibby, 37, security guard of Redemption Sharpes of a black and white cellular phone valued $400 and allegedly assaulting Bibby by scraping him on the left side of his face with a knife.

In the past, prisoners have attempted, or made good their escape from police custody at the the courts while using the court’s washrooms.

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