Accused refuses Magistrate’s help

Yesterday, once again, when he was a no-show, the magistrate expressed regret at being “let down” by a defendant who refuses to come to court although he faces a possible jail sentence. Sheperd, of Claxton Bay, was charged with larceny of pipes on January 21, from Caribbean Industrial Agriculture Ltd, a company in Claxton Bay

The pipes are valued $3,000 and the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Sheperd told Magistrate Ramsaran that he stole the pipes to buy drugs. Ramsaran is the resident magistrate in Rio Claro and on four previous occasions, he has journeyed to San Fernando to adjudicate in this case. He let Sheperd go free on $5,000 bail and pleaded with him to attend drug treatment and then he would assess how and if he (Sheperd) has rehabilitated, the court would decide what sentence to impose

But Sheperd refused to attend court and yesterday a female relative who stood as surety for the bail, showed up in court instead

She told Magistrate Ramsaran that she cannot seem to convince Sheperd to attend court. “I sympathise with you. But you have to bring him or the court will forfeit the bail. I do not want to send him to jail. I feel that despite his previous convictions, he should be given a chance and I leave my court all the way in Rio Claro, to come San Fernando, hoping I would hear from Mr Sheperd that he has attended drug treatment. If that is so I would be happy to give him a small fine,” the magistrate said

Ramsaran added that Sheperd is letting him down, and worse, is compromising the integrity of the court to be fair to all other accused persons, who must be looking on and hoping for mercy from judicial officers. Ramsaran said despite the contempt Sheperd has shown the court, he still would not issue a warrant for his arrest. He asked Sheperd’s relative to employ some help in getting him to attend court today. “I might fine him $2,000 and you will take it from the $5,000 bail you posted to pay that fine,” Magistrate Ramsaran told the accused man’s relative