Mentally ill man who fired gun to be evaluated
BVI News Staff - Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 at 3:56 PM
Photo of a gun .380 gun. * Not associated with the gun mentioned in the story.
Magistrate Tamia Richards said she would have to wait for a medical report before she allows a man, who preliminary findings suggest might be mentally ill, to plead to firearm charges.
The magistrate consulted the Mental Health Act and communicated her concerns when Calvin Weekes appeared before her to face the charges of unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The court heard that the defendant is unemployed and resides at Huntums Ghut. It was stated that on May 17 at about 5:55 pm, the police received a report of gun shots being fired in the Huntums Ghut area of Sandbox Road. As a result, officers responded and met the defendant’s father who told them his son was at his residence discharging a firearm. Additional officers were called to assist.
Upon arrival, Inspector Potter was handed a cell phone and was told the defendant was on the line. The inspector proceeded to communicate with the defendant who was given specific instructions to exit his residence, and walk on the public road with his hands above his head.
The defendant complied and exited the house. He was cautioned and arrested for keeping an unlicensed firearm.
Weekes was handcuffed and taken back to the premise and asked what he did with the firearm and he replied: “I took it a part and put it inside the house.” He was also asked about the spent shells and he said that he picked them up and placed them inside too.
The defendant led the officers into his bedroom and they observed two rounds of ammunition and two spent shells sitting on top the chest of draws. The defendant then showed officers the two spent shells and two rounds. He also showed them a black travelling bag. In the second chest of the draw, officers found a ski mask that contained the lower receiver or pistol grip of a silver-coloured Mac nine millimetre semi-automatic pistol, and officers also found a maroon-coloured bag containing the buffer and buffer spring of the firearm.
Inside a black travelling bag officers found a silver coloured firearm slider which had both sides obliterated. It was suspected that this area would have carried the name and serial number of the firearm.
In a cardbox officers also found a silver covered container that had in 24 rounds of ammunition.
The defendant was evaluated by Dr. Samuels on May 18, and it was indicated that the he was suffering from acute or chronic psychosis. And at the time he was actually hallucinating, paranoid and suspicious. Weekes is said to have a mental disorder.
In light of the preliminary findings, Magistrate Richard said it would not be in the public interest to have the defendant on the streets, and announced that the court would administratively review the remand after eight days and after receipt of medical report.
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“obeah”
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