New Amsterdam court
Chaos erupts in holding area
Stabroek News
March 31, 2003
Chaos erupted in the holding area of the New Amsterdam court on Friday as prisoners brought for trial by an armed contingent of about six policemen tried to overpower the ranks and a fist-fight ensued.
About ten prisoners were in the holding area of the bottom flat of the court, waiting to appear before Magistrate Krishendat Persaud, when some of them began hurling abuse and expletives over the delay, demanding cigarettes and food, and shouting to be let out.
The court was already in session upstairs when the trouble began, and the noise level emanating from the lower flat was so deafening, that Magistrate Persaud on two occasions asked the police to issue warnings to the prisoners.
The assault on the outnumbered ranks occurred when the police opened the door to the holding area to allow the three or four quiet prisoners up into the court for their matters to be heard.
At this point, the others launched themselves on their police guards, encouraged by their relatives who were standing nearby with food for them, and who added their voices to the chorus of invective.
The police eventually managed to push the disruptive prisoners back into the holding area by locking arms and forming a phalanx. The door was then closed and locked, the area roundabout was cordoned off, and the relatives were required to leave.
The prisoners who had taken no part in the melee, did appear before the magistrate, while the others were returned to prison.
And during the same session, Councillor Rupert Trim, who was appearing for a client, was cited for contempt by the magistrate after he made a contemptuous statement. After he was sentenced to one day in jail, he apologized to the magistrate saying he had lost his temper, and the sentence was declared void.
There have been problems at the New Amsterdam court before. Last November, Charles Grant known as ‘Piggy Mouth,’ was in court waiting for his matter to be heard when he escaped, despite the fact that the court was in session at the time. The police had issued a bulletin for him earlier stating he was wanted in connection with the offences of armed rohbery, murder and discharging a loaded firearm. They had subsequently captured him, and it was when he was put in front of the New Amsterdam court that he disappeared. He is still at large. (Michel Moses)
