BVI News

Man fined for disrupting court | Says continuous adjournments frustrated him

Rashawn Williams (centre) was escorted from the courtroom in John’s Hole, Tortola on Tuesday.

A Horse Path man was slapped with a $1,000 fine on Tuesday for continuously disrupting the Magistrate’s Court.

Rashawn Williams is facing up to four months at Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut if he fails to pay the fine.

Williams, who is on remand at the adult penitentiary, began disrupting the court on Tuesday after learning that his court hearing had been pushed to a later date.

He was scheduled to appear before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards for several traffic-related offences and for alleged possession of a controlled drug.

However, after spending hours in the court’s holding area, he began making outbursts that permeated throughout the courtroom.

After being continuously told to cease and desist, he was brought before Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo.

“I have been trying to ignore you for the past five minutes, but you are not stopping. You are disturbing my court,” the magistrate told Williams.

She then explained to him that Senior Magistrate Richards was unable to attend court; hence the adjournment of his matter.

I pleaded guilty months ago

Williams, however, argued that he had already pleaded guilty to the offences for which he was initially arraigned.

He said he pleaded guilty more than three months ago and just wanted to be sentenced instead of ‘going back and forth’ only to have his matter continuously adjourned.

The seemingly frustrated man later had to be subdued by two police officers and transported back to Her Majesty’s Prison.

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37 Comments

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  1. L says:

    The man’s got a good point. I would be frustrated too.

    Like 100
    Dislike 1
    • lol says:

      By time they sentence him he’ll be free to go. They may even have to reimburse him for time spent. What a bunch of jokers.

      Like 32
      Dislike 1
    • BVI says:

      The Senior Magistrate is often absent from Court. When will the Governor Office and Deputy Governor Office look into these frequent absences. The man has a valid point.
      I understand she takes off every Monday.

      Like 37
      Dislike 3
      • Ha says:

        They won’t do a thing because she ‘from here’.

        Like 13
        Dislike 12
        • ava says:

          Did you understand that she works 14 and 16 hour days? Stop listening to gossip.

          Like 4
          Dislike 8
          • 14 to 16 hours when? says:

            If that was really true then he wouldn’t be so upset because of the many adjournments even after a guilty plea several months ago, would he? His matter would have already been dealt with….who are you trying to fool?

            Gossip!! Really? #facts

            Like 8
            Dislike 2
          • Jane says:

            If you’re consistently working 16 hours per day then it suggests you are incompetent and incapable.

  2. oh says:

    I agree with. Why should be his matter be continuously delayed after he has already pleaded guilty. Something is wrong with that picture and only the poor is being affected.

    Like 66
    Dislike 1
  3. a good thing... says:

    apart from the Court inefficiencies – this might help him remember the results of his selfish criminal activities!

    Like 10
    Dislike 48
  4. strupes says:

    I agree with the man yes

    Like 35
  5. Mindy says:

    If he pleaded guilty approximately three months ago, what else is left to do but for the magistrate to sentence him and why should that be so difficult. Has he committed a crime that was never committed before, that the court need lots of time to research? That would frustrate anyone.

    Like 34
  6. Quiet Rebel says:

    True, if you do the crime, you should do the time and suffer the consequences. To maintain good order and discipline, there must be laws that are enforce; there must be proportionality relative to the crime. Nevertheless, justice delayed is justice denied. The long delay in adjudicating cases (years sometimes) is imposing a double penalty for those convicted and a penalty for those exonerated. The stress and strain placed on accused due to long delays is a penalty.

    Though there must be penalties for violating laws, some jurists seem to take joy in locking up violators when other remedies can work. Murderers, rapists, other violent and property crimes……etc should be locked up. However, in the BVI, the lil man is being locked up for offenses, ie, minor possession and use of cannabis…..etc that other developed and developing countries are decriminalizing. Some are even making money and making room in prisons for hardcore criminals. Justice reform is needed in the BVI.

    Like 13
    Dislike 3
  7. What else..... says:

    Oh please, you have to respect the Courts and keep your mouth shut or hire an attorney to do the talking. Or better yet, walk a stright line and stay out of things that is going to get you caught up.

    Like 5
    Dislike 21
    • Chupz says:

      Shutcho b***h a** up

      Like 5
      Dislike 4
    • really says:

      what a load of crap.
      the guy is she he pleased guilty what parade him around. just give him his sentenced so both party can move on.not because you have power over some one meaning they have to be treated like that.

      Like 10
      Dislike 2
  8. @Chupz says:

    And you need to go take a course in how to speak you poor downtrodden misfit. I feel so sorry for your I am stuck in misery Tortola. You need to send out a SOS sign.

    Like 3
    Dislike 3
  9. @Really says:

    He is fine where he is. Why don’t you and whoever have a problem with it, go to the judge and say what you are blogging. Nawww, you cowards would never do that. The only thing you people in Tortola knows how to do is talk S**t behind each others back and look stupid.

    Like 5
    Dislike 9
  10. djs says:

    The judges no accountable to no one. Takeoff day- 2 day – week & no one can do nothing. They above da law lazy and are stealing the pay from us hard working people— that’s the one’s in USA— same here same all over– it’s what’s wrong in the world. Judges think they gods.
    Hand out sentences or not to relatives and friends and dam others– to make themselves look good and we all know it.
    Who say straight and narrow path– we not slaves no more – we walk upright and now they carrying the whip with lady justice crying.

  11. @Quite Rebel says:

    You should stfu because you don’t even know the reason the boy is up there , IF YOUR A** OR ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY WAS GOING THROUGH THIS , YALL WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO SAY !
    THIS YOUNG MAN ALREADY PLEAD GUILTY 3 MONTHS AGO HE HAD ALREADY NEEDED TO GET SENTENCE !
    AS THEY SAY IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR LAST NAME ! IF OT WAS ANYONE ELSE WITH BIGGER PROBLEMS THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENTENCED. THIS YOUNG MAN ONLY HAS DRUG CHARGES AND TRAFFICKING OFFENSES MINOR STUFF THE SYSTEM IS BACKWORDS AS H**L

    Like 17
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  12. Diaspora says:

    If it is true that the accused pled guilty some three months ago, what reason(s) is the magistrate giving for not handing down a sentence as yet? Though the accused behaviour cannot be condoned, one can see why the accused would be frustrated. Too many magistrates and judges treat defendants with little to no compassion and are just a number, not human beings. 3 months is too blinking long to impose a sentence on this accuse. Some of these people wear their power on their sleeve and strut around like them bigger than life. Though some can debate if no crime was committed, this accused would not be in this pickle.

    True. However, the reality is laws will be broken. There are no crime free societies. Crime free societies are idealistic, not realistic. As such, cases must processed quickly and fairly. In a twisted way, crimes are what for the most part keep magistrates, judges……etc on the bench and employed. Who are providing oversight of magistrates and judges? Local government or Governor?

    Justice delayed is justice denied. There must be some standard(s) in place for adjudicating cases, meeting out justice to defendants in a timely manner. Are magistrates and judges rated on how quickly and fairly they adjudicate cases? Cases are lingering sometimes for years so what ratings are being assigned? Are magistrates and judges prima donnas and do their own thing when, how, and where they want.

    Like 12
    Dislike 3
  13. €€€€€€€ says:

    Give his backside 10 years for acting the fool.All he is comming out to do is get in more trouble

    Like 5
    Dislike 17
    • @€€€€€€ says:

      Hide And Blog Das All Ayo Does Do#Setta puss**s

      Like 6
      Dislike 1
    • @€€£€€€ says:

      Y’all feel is good to wish bad on people !
      I hope you have children , and the same f–k you here wishing on people children I hope your Child goes through the same shit or something blood cloth worst
      BadMinded setta f—ers

  14. Charnele says:

    I agree with the man’s frustration. This is happening too often. A have a friend is going through the same thing, three time within the past two months call before the court for sentencing and each time postpone. This is a shame.

  15. Hmm says:

    #FreeRashawn !
    We here for you Love

    Like 9
    Dislike 2
  16. Anonymous says:

    Indeed, the man has a right to be frustrated and to lash out accordingly. It appears that the justice system has no respect nor appreciation for the ‘poor’ or less fortunate in Society.

  17. Zzzzzz says:

    Fauc the police at all times

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