One month after a man, who is believed to be mentally unstable, was remanded to prison for attempting to kill his neighbour, he, this morning, pleaded with Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for his freedom.
Brian Matheson, in addressing the court, stated, “I need my freedom. The prison crowded and they only giving people bread and sugar water all day. I can’t even look at people without them getting offended. I can’t even get peace cause every minute they saying Rastaman do this. Rastaman do that.”
He added that since incarcerated, he uses his spare time to sketch portraits of persons. “Your worship I have a portrait of you and I would like for you to have it.”
The Chief Magistrate then collected the portrait after which she stated, “This is the third portrait of me you have done. Thanks, please don’t do anymore.”
The 44-year-old of Wortmanville, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the charge which stated that on September 27, 2019, at Wortmanville, Georgetown, he wounded Ronald Bettencourt with intent to commit murder.
He allegedly dealt his neighbour several stabs about his abdomen.
According to information, on the day in question, the defendant and the victim had an argument when he armed himself with a knife and went into the victim’s yard where he dealt him several stabs about his body.
The injured man was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted.
The matter was reported, an investigation was carried out, and Matheson was charged for the offence.
On his first court appearance, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers objected to bail being granted to the defendant citing the serious nature of the allegation and the fact that the victim was hospitalized in a serious condition.
The Magistrate had also ordered that the accused undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
However, the prosecutor informed the court that Matheson has not yet been seen by the psychiatrist at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Hence, the Magistrate remanded him until November 25, for a report on the psychiatric evaluation.
