Female accused hides face, bares all

PANDEMONIUM broke out in the precincts of the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court Friday, when a woman, who was among a group charged with several arms and ammunition offences, raised her dress over her head and exposed herself in public, as she attempted to hide her face from media photographers. However, police who were escorting Yvonne Rodriguez out of the courthouse, were more interested in securing her and other prisoners, than pointing out to her that she was exposing herself to the public. Before her dramatic departure from the courthouse, Rodriguez, 28, of Frederick Street, Moruga; Joseph Harris, 24, of Indian Walk, Moruga Road, and Fernanda Harrington, 28, of Indian Walk, Moruga, appeared before Magistrate Siumongal Ramsaran in the Second Court charged with burglary, possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm to endanger life, possession of ammunition, possession of ammunition to endanger life, setting fire to a dwelling house with persons in it, and discharging a firearm within 40 yards of a public road.

The trio was denied bail by Ramsaran after objections were made by court prosecutor Sgt Baldeo on the grounds that the offences were of a very serious nature, the prevalence of such offences, and that the virtual complainant was a witness for the prosecution in an offence of a similar nature. According to the charges, it is alleged that around 2 am on Wednesday, the three defendants went to the house of the State witness in Moruga, which they broke into and set afire. They also allegedly fired several shots at the house while the witness and three others were in the building. Under supervision of Supt Joseph Nathaniel, Sgt Errol Ramdath, Cpl Nazrool Hosein and PC Kevin Neptune, Princes Town Police conducted enquiries and subsequently arrested and charged the trio. Charges were laid by PC Kevin Neptune.

Attorney Richard Valere appeared for Harris, while the two sisters were unrepresented. Harris has no previous convictions. The two female defendants are out on $20,000 bail for an unrelated offence. Rodriguez has two pending matters for grievous bodily harm in the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court, while Harrington has pending matters, including soliciting to murder and the fraudulent conversion of $10,000. These charges are being heard before a San Fernando magistrate. Harrington is on $75,000 bail for the two charges. The three accused were remanded for tracing and are due to appear in the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court on October 12. What was supposed to be a mundane end to the case ended in pandemonium when Rodriguez, on seeing media photographers waiting outside the court, raised her dress over her face, exposing her underwear and midriff. She was then led away by police towards a waiting prisoners’ van.