Judge Charles-Clarke
Judge Charles-Clarke

A psychiatrist was summoned to appear before the Roseau High Court judge Justice Victoria Charles Clarke on Wednesday May 3, 2017 to give an evaluation on a man found not guilty of indecent assault by virtue of insanity.

The judge did not just want to release the man before determining the safety of other females after the jury's verdict.

Dr. Nadia Wallace first had to give her opinion on the fitness of the accused man to stand trial at a special hearing before a jury of six women and three men at the High Court before the resident judge on Tuesday April 11, 2017. After the one-day hearing which saw State Attorneys Sherma Dalrymple, Anne Riviere and Carlita Benjamin aligned opposite defence counsel Peter Alleyne as a friend of the court found the accused fit to stand trial.

Dr. Wallace's findings then were that the man had a neuro-developmental disorder and mild intellectual deficiency. He appeared very simple in his reasoning, seemed to have difficulty recording when he was faced with difficult situations and had difficulty recognising even when he was at risk. She felt that he was able to stand trial. He understood what was happening, was able to explain everything that happened on that day. He was not psychotic and in touch with his surroundings and had no disturbance in his thought process.

Under cross examination by Alleyne, the doctor said that patient had a mild disorder disability and was thus able to function at a level in society. She found no record to indicate that he had been a patient at the Acute Psychiatric Unit. Dr. Wallace thought the patient would be able to question witnesses and would be able to carry his side of events in a clear manner. He would not lie and would say everything that happened.

Well, the jury of five men and four women found the accused not guilty by reason of insanity.

Discontinued

Meanwhile, driver Leroy Williams of Salisbury left the High Court a free man on Tuesday May 9, 2017 when the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew its case against him.

Williams was charged with causing the death of Hilroy Ambo on the Jimmit public road on November 12, 2011.

David Bruney was counsel for Williams.