Latest update December 12th, 2024 1:00 AM
Tighter security at City Court in wake of violent attacks by prisoners
The sharp rise in violent displays by prisoners from minor disturbances and death threats being hurled at police ranks has prompted tighter security at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
This comes following last Monday’s attack on Police Inspector Ram by murder accused Donnel Trapp, who is on remand for the murder of re-migrant Agriculturalist, Anthony Breedy.
It was shortly after Trapp and two other men were committed to stand trial at the High Court for murder when he hurled death threats at Inspector Ram before drenching him with water and tossing a trash can at the senior police rank.
It is still unclear why the prisoner launched the attack on Inspector Ram.
Commander of Police ‘A’ Division Marlon Chapman met with officials at the court and additional security has been installed. Commander Chapman revealed that there is “more to come” since his primary concern is security of the “entire court.”
”There was an incident here (last week Monday) when three prisoners— I understand that they were committed to stand trial for the murder of Mr. Breedy on the Linden Soesdyke/Highway — behaved badly. Security of prisoners is something we need to look at. And of course there are serious ones and not so serious ones,” the Commander noted during a televised interview.
Following last Monday’s raucous episode, Kaieteur News, observed that additional policemen armed with high-powered rifles have been placed at the court.
Police ranks have been placed on the court steps. Ranks remain in the environs of the prisoner’s chute and police outpost.
Inspector Ram has not been seen at court since the incident. Reports reaching this newspaper indicate that the officer has been transferred.
On March 21, murder accused Orin Arthur- who is on remand for the murder of Guyana Geology and Mines (GGMC) Trevor Abrams- taunted a police constable to shoot him during a disturbance between prisoners and police ranks at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The episode lasted for approximately one hour, during which persons were prevented from entering or exiting the court compound.
Police ranks struggled to control Arthur as the prisoner demanded to speak with his attorney. An outraged Arthur flung off his loose handcuffs upon exiting the prison van. He reportedly threw away two other handcuffs.
A heated argument broke out between Arthur and the police constable who was armed with a high-powered rifle. From all indications, the prisoner had refused to be placed inside the holding area, where other prisoners stood and was seen walking about in an area in the Police Outpost where female prisoners and juveniles are kept.
The police constable, 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 shoot at him.
Arthur and his two co-accused were taken back to the Camp Street prison, missing a court hearing they were scheduled to attend.
Last year, a prisoner, who was about to enter the prison van cuffed an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to his face after condemning the manner in which the officer was speaking to him. Initially, the prisoner had grabbed an iron bar at the back of the vehicle to confront the police officer. However, other ranks intervened and relieved him of the bar.
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