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Prisoner collapses, experiences “seizure” at Vreed-en-Hoop Court
…Magistrate quits bench
Yesterday, people in the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s court witnessed a prisoner experience what they believed to be a seizure.
During the proceedings of the court, Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs-Marcus was taking the statements for another matter.
About 11:30 hours, Shamal Shivnarine, 47, of 66 Dowding Street, who was sitting in the prisoner’s dock, collapsed within the confines of the court.
Shamal Shivnarine (centre) being assisted by police ranks.
Magistrate Marcus then exclaimed, “Oh goodness,” sprang from her seat and hurried to her chambers.
All eyes were now focused on the accused who appeared to be lying motionless whilst clad in a red jersey and blue jeans.
After a few seconds of observing the accused, officers in the court were prompted by a lawyer to ensure that Shivnarine who was remanded on May 24, for two charges, simple larceny and assault causing actual bodily harm, was not dead.
Two ranking officers then proceeded to lift the defendant from the floor but as soon as hands were laid on him, Shivnarine began to shake uncontrollably. His tongue was caught between his teeth.
Officers decided to lift the defendant, to place him in a sitting position on the bench as they damped his forehead with mentholated spirits in efforts to resuscitate him. But this course of action appeared to cause the defendant to lose consciousness again.
A lawyer then insisted to the officers that the prisoner be taken to a hospital for immediate medical attention. The prisoner was then whisked off to West Demerara Hospital.
Shivnarine, who could not have walked on his own, was lifted into the Hospital by two ranks attached to the Vreed-en-Hoop police Station.
About 15 minutes after his arrival, nurses at the hospital became furious as they related to this publication that the officers did not know the name of the man and requested that they simply addressed him as “prisoner.”
“When they saw the man collapse, they should have brought him to the hospital immediately. How can you bring a man to the hospital and he is in your custody and you don’t know his name and address?” exclaimed one of the nurses.
The nurses continued, “The officers of ‘D’ Division are highly disrespectful. We cannot go to the police station and do as we like. At the hospital we have rules and they are just disregarded by these officers.
“They are not supposed to be in the emergency room. Regardless of whom he is to the police, at the hospital he is a patient, not a prisoner. This will be reported to our superiors.”
The defendant remained under observation at the West Demerara Hospital.
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