Man jailed for alleged ‘courthouse badness’

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque commended the observations of a constable attached to the court, who noticed a defendant intimidating a complainant on Tuesday.

"I thank you for being observant and alert. I thank you, Officer Johnson. It is much more than just coming court, but it is protecting and reassuring," the senior jurist noted. The cop informed the court that he was cautious of the actions displayed by the defendant Kwesi Francis, whom he saw talking to the complainant.

"I saw him squeeze the hands of the complainant, but I didn't pay it much mind because I thought it was something friendly. But then I saw his face, and it was the face of great intimidation," Johnson related to the court. After checking the court's list, he realised that Francis was charged and that he was interfering with the complainant.

"Your Honour, I was just telling her I am sorry," Francis explained, who pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property.

"You are not going home tonight. I am going to send you somewhere [where] you are going to get squeezed. I am very fearful of interference, and you have already interfered with the course of justice by squeezing the complainant. I think it offensive, me think it out of order, me think him eye dry, me think him rude, me think it terrible, me think of all the adjectives I can think about for him to behave in that way," Cole-Montaque expressed, after Francis admitted to previously hitting the complainant.

"You are remanded in custody until February 19, and you can tell me then how that goes. If you get any squeeze, I hope is only your hand them squeeze," she added.

The matter was adjourned until February 19.