Prisoner takes control of court compound in hour-long stand-off

Mar 22, 2017 News

---

A prisoner taunted a police rank to shoot him during unrest between prisoners and police officers yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The episode lasted for approximately an hour, during which persons were prevented from entering or exiting the court compound.
The ordeal attracted a sizable crowd of spectators.
The drama unfolded at around 10a.m., as three murder accused – Orin Arthur, Yori Varswyk and Steven Prescott – were being escorted out of the prisoners’ van.
Police ranks struggled to control Arthur as the prisoner demanded to speak with his attorney. An outraged Arthur flung off his loose handcuffs.
The prisoner reportedly threw away two other handcuffs.
The handcuffs landed in the compound of the St. Andrew’s Kirk, situated across the road from the courthouse. A passerby went to retrieve the handcuffs.
A few minutes later, a heated argument broke out between Arthur and a police constable who was armed with a high-powered rifle. From all indications, the prisoners had refused to be placed inside the holding area, where other prisoners stood.
Efforts made by police ranks to place the men in confinement proved futile as they were seen sitting and walking about in an area in the Police Outpost where female prisoners and juveniles are kept.
The rank, who appeared agitated, was seen pointing his weapon at Arthur who was standing behind grillwork in the Police Outpost. Arthur continued his tirade as he demanded the armed police rank to shoot at him. A series of expletives were used.
Another rank subsequently requested observers, including reporters, to “clear” the stairway.
As a result, persons proceeded onto the balcony on the upper flat of the courthouse where they continued viewing the commotion.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police was heard shouting “reporters please go in court”, as another police rank threatened to arrest a reporter who remained on the stairs.
Meanwhile, Prescott requested to speak with media operatives, while Arthur was seen talking with an attorney. Eventually the prisoners calmed down and were escorted back to the Camp Street prison.
The three murder accused were brought to court yesterday for continuation of a preliminary inquiry into the murder of Trevor Abrams, a former Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) engineer. Based on reports, Abrams, 32, formerly of Lot 31 Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara, was shot and killed on February 26, 2015, after heavily armed men ambushed him and opened fire on his vehicle. The shooting occurred at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
However, the prisoners did not appear before a Magistrate since they were taken back to the penitentiary.
Based on information, the chaos did not affect court proceedings.
About two weeks ago, Varswyk had refused to go through the prisoners’ chute which opens into the courtroom after complaining that the area was filthy. A police rank was later seen escorting the murder accused up to the courtroom using the stairs where members of the public would gather.
Another police rank was then seen sweeping out the prisoners’ chute with a broom.
Earlier this year, Arthur and Varswyk were committed to stand trial at the High Court in Georgetown for the murder of former Sterling Products Limited guard, Wilfred Stewart, which occurred on December 24, at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
It was reported that Stewart was shot dead by gunmen who forced their way into the business’ compound during a robbery.
For the year, there have been several instances of prisoners behaving disorderly while waiting to attend court hearings at the City Court.
In one instance, murder accused Regus Lamazon was seen brandishing a knife in the Police Outpost during a fight between prisoners. That day, all male prisoners were subjected to a search. However, sources have revealed that the weapon was never recovered.
In another instance, murder accused Calvin Johnson called ‘Gun Butt’ was brutally beaten by prisoners in the holding area.
Last month, murder accused Timothy Paul Chance was stabbed to the abdomen with an improvised ice pick during a fight between him and one of his co-accused. The incident occurred after the 18-year-old and four others were committed to stand trial at the High Court for the murder of Professor Pairadeau Mars.
In light of the recent attacks, Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, had told Kaieteur News that he believes that these incidents can be eradicated, if police ranks at the court conduct routine searches on prisoners they escort.
Samuels had pointed out that prisoners leaving penitentiaries to attend court are searched with metal detectors. However, he said that police ranks reserve the right to search prisoners, as this would be an additional layer of security.
Last year, a male prisoner who was about to enter the prison van cuffed an Assistant Superintendent of Police to the face after condemning the manner in which the officer was speaking to him.
These escalating attacks at the court have led to an increase in ranks patrolling with high-powered rifles. In an effort to tighten security, almost a dozen batons were recently distributed to ranks at the court.

---

---