The man once described as T&T’s most wanted was yesterday sent to the St Ann’s Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation after he appeared before an Arima magistrate. Azmon Alexander was sent to the institution by Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno after admitting to hearing voices and having hallucinations.
Alexander, 29, was placed in shackles as he left the courthouse around 4.30 pm and made to walk a few feet to a prisoner escort van. As he walked, a crowd that had gathered outside swarmed towards him, with a few women calling out his name.
Members of the crowd included relatives of Alexander, of Ackbarali St, Malabar, his co-accused, of Goat Hill, Arima, and relatives of three people the duo are accused of killing.
Some in the crowd heckled Alexander, calling him “wicked” and “evil.” One woman shouted, “A baby, boy! Nah man.”
Earlier in the day, court prosecutor Sgt Glendon Alexander did not object to Azmon’s attorney Fareed Ali’s request for him to be sent to St Ann’s, but noted that Alexander had escaped from custody twice before and security at the institution was “quite porous.”
Ali said his client was further traumatised by comments made on air by Insp Roger Alexander during his Beyond the Tape programme. Ali said Insp Alexander told viewers that his client should surrender because the police “would (sic) not be responsible for what happens to you.” He said this comment had his client living in fear and he had “grave concern” for his client.
Ali also complained that Insp Alexander also told his viewers that Ali had a tendency to get his clients sent to St Ann’s and asked the magistrate not to allow that to pollute her mind. Cedeno informed the court that she did not have the time to look at the television programme.
After hearing from both Ali and Sgt Alexander on the pros and cons of ordering a psychiatric evaluation, Cedeno asked the accused if it was true that he was hearing voices and seeing hallucinations. Alexander, with a smirk on his face, shook his head and said yes.
Ali also complained to the magistrate that police had labelled him “a devil’s advocate” while Alexander was in their custody and he was appalled by the alleged statements by the police. He Ali said police were taking pictures of Alexander while he was in the police station and promised him a reduced sentence if he co-operated with them, particularly in the disappearance of Danny Singh, Naomi Williams and a man identified only as “Chinee.”
Ali said his client spent nine days in custody and was allowed to bathe three times and only received his prescribed medication three days after he saw a doctor. He said his client was made to sign a station diary at gunpoint and they were not allowed to meet in private as mandated by law.
20 Charges for Co-Accused
Alexander’s co-accused, his 17-year-old cousin, also appeared in court yesterday and was jointly charged with 20 charges, including kidnapping, murder and shooting at police. He was charged with eight individual charges as well, while Alexander faces 17 individual charges, including possession of marijuana and escaping lawful custody.
While the charges were being read to the teen, his mother Erica Charles, stood beside him. His attorney Suneesh Singh asked for disclosure of all relevant documents related to the matter. As the men were being told of their offences, eight police, court staff and other members of the public flocked into the courtroom hoping to see the duo.
Alexander, who has three outstanding warrants stemming from pending matters, was also charged with escaping lawful custody on January 31. On those offences he is to re-appear before a Mayaro magistrate on December 29. On the other matter both are to re-appear on December 15.
Background
Alexander is charged with the disappearance of Brasso Seco residents Irma Rampersad, 49, her daughters—Felicia, 17, and Jennelle Gonzales, 19— Jennelle’s daughter 14-month-old Shania Amoroso and Rampersad’s neighbour, Felix Martinez, 52. The family members were last seen on October 26 and reported missing two days later. Martinez also was reported missing but residents thought he had gone on a hunting trip.
On November 8, Martinez’s body was found in a sleeping bag along with baby Shania. On November 11, Rampersad’s body was found near a tree. All three bodies were found badly decomposed in the Brasso Seco forest. Both Rampersad and Martinez were strangled, according to autopsies. The cause of death for baby Shania remains unknown as her autopsy was inconclusive owing to the advanced stage of decomposition. Three days after Rampersad’s body was found, sisters Jennelle and Felicia were rescued from a makeshift camp in the Lalaja forest. On November 15, the 17-year-old suspect surrendered to police. Alexander was captured by police on November 23 at Lennox Yearwood Boulevard, Malabar.
