A mentally-ill man who was shot by the police after he allegedly beat three people with a piece of wood in La Romaine has been released into the care of his father. Wilton Thomas, 27, a schizophrenic, initially pleaded guilty and was subsequently sent to St Ann’s Hospital for two weeks for a mental evaluation, after a request from his attorney.
When he reappeared before San Fernando Fourth Court Magistrate Indar Jagroo on Tuesday, Thomas’s attorney Annalee Girwar asked for the four charges to be read over to him and he pleaded not guilty. The charges included two malicious wounding offences, possession of a cutlass with intent to wound and robbery with violence. The offences took place on August 8.
One of victims, Elizabeth Hosein, who was robbed of $709, suffered a broken arm and another, Mervyn Layne, 73, suffered a broken jaw. Charges were laid by acting Sgt Narine Bisnath and PC Ogunsheye. In her application for bail, Girwar said based on the medical report from St Ann’s Hospital, her client was not of sound mind. Adding that he had no previous conviction or pending matters, she asked for Thomas to be granted bail with his father Willon as surety. Thomas’s parents were in court.
Asked why he did not take his medication, Girwar said he usually took an injection “every now and again.” She said when Thomas “acts up,” arrangements are made to send him to St Ann’s, but Thomas had gone missing for a while. She said at the time Thomas was staying by his mother at Hector Street, La Romaine, but he generally stays by his father in Siparia. His father told the magistrate that every month his son attends the Siparia clinic.
The magistrate granted Thomas $25,000 bail with his father as surety, but with conditions. He has to attend clinic and go to the Siparia Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The matter was adjourned to September 23.