Accused collapses with heart attack outside court

A blind 67-year-old father charged with the killing of his son collapsed on the steps of the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, early yesterday morning while waiting for the court to open. Anisley Lee Kim’s trial for manslaughter was listed to go on before Justice Melville Baird at 9 am in the First Assizes. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was diagnosed to have suffered a heart attack. His attorney, Keith Scotland, made it clear about 2 pm yesterday that contrary to a radio report, Lee Kim was alive and warded at the hospital. The refusal of security guards at the Hall of Justice to allow Lee Kim entry in to the building so that he could sit and wait before the building was open to members of the public at 8 am brought strong criticism from attorneys and other members of the public.

Lee Kim was committed to stand trial on a manslaughter charge for the unlawful killing of his 24-year-old son Wayne Lee Kim at their Macoya home on March 6, 2001. The State is alleging that Lee Kim was having an argument with his stepdaughter when his son Wayne intervened. Lee Kim threw a peera (very low bench) which hit Wayne in his head. When the matter was called yesterday, Scotland apologised to Justice Baird for the absence of Lee Kim. He explaining that Lee Kim had arrived early at the court, about 7.45 am, and attempted to enter the Hall of Justice whereupon he was informed by security personnel, and rightly so, that he was too early and had to wait until the appropriate time. Scotland paused to make it clear that he was not casting any aspersion on the security, and continued saying that his client was leaning against a post outside the building when he began to experience chest pains and collapsed.

He said: “What I am told is that he had suffered a heart attack and had to be rushed to the Accident and Emergency Department of the PoSGH via ambulance.” Eyewitnesses said that it took the ambulance about 30 minutes before arriving at the Hall of Justice. Scotland noted that this was Lee Kim’s third heart attack. Justice Baird said that there was no need to aplogise and after consultation with Scotland and senior State prosecutor Trevor Ward, the matter was adjourned to April 14. But before doing so, Scotland informed the court that on the adjourned date he will be adopting a certain course which will not require a jury.

Some attorneys hearing of the incident felt that security personnel could have used their discretion and allowed Lee Kim to sit inside on a bench instead of forcing him to remain standing outside.  They said that the strict enforcement of not allowing members of the public into the Hall of Justice before 8 am and after 4 pm was foolish. Attorneys also felt that security officers at the front ought to be able to exercise discretion, noting that even journalists covering court proceedings are not allowed to enter the building if a court has to sit after 4 pm, or if a matter is in progress and a journalist leaves, he is not allowed to re-enter. They felt that whoever instituted such strict rules was only embarrassing the Chief Justice, who is the head of the judiciary.