‘I will kill you when I come out of jail!’

PANDEMONIUM broke out at the San Fernando Magistrates’ courthouse when prisoners, enraged over their cases not being started, fought with police and smashed a door leading to the prisoners’ docks in the First Court. One of the prisoners even turned to the presiding magistrate — Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington — and issued this threat: “I will kill you when I come out from jail! You only trying rich people cases.” Throughout the melee, with civilians and even attorneys scampering for safety, Magistrate Wellington sat calmly in his seat as Court and Process Police struggled to remove the three fighting prisoners and restore order in the courtroom. Police sources confirmed to Newsday that security arrangements for Wellington were being reviewed in light of the death threat.

The drama took place around mid-morning, when the prisoner refused to be led away to the holding bay after his case was adjourned. As policemen lifted the prisoner bodily off the ground in the prisoners’ docks, two other prisoners became violent and kicked down the door of the docks. It was then the prisoner looked in the direction of a bemused Wellington and shouted his death threat. Yesterday’s incident was the third time in which Wellington faced the wrath of prisoners who have been complaining over the expediting of the hearing of the Dr Chandra Naraynsingh murder inquiry, which took precedence over other matters before the court. When the prisoners turned violent, attorneys Ravi Gooljar and Chaiteram Sinanan ran out of the courthouse. Policemen immediately closed all doors leading to the courthouse.