Emotional outburst disrupts courtroom

Magistrate Gloria Augustus was forced to summon additional security at a Roseau magistrate’s courtroom this morning when one of the defendants began acting in a seemingly uncontrollable manner.

Curtis Paul, who claimed that his name is ‘Ganja King’, was escorted into the courtroom by officers. “Greetings!” he shouted with arms outstretched, upon entering the courtroom

Following this, he made his way to the defendants’ dock and loudly asked for his bible to read verses of scripture to the court. He then began quoting psalms and shouting phrases such as “Hail Selassie”, “I am seen and protected by high priest” and “I can’t be touched.”

“The day you born, the day you die…I meet Jesus last night and I tell him free Jah…,” Paul blurted out in the courtroom.

The court clerk and a female lawyer left their seats and hastily moved to the opposite side of the courtroom when the defendant began climbing and elevating himself in the defendant’s box.

Officers of the courtroom kindly urged the defendant to remain calm.

The magistrate ordered that he be handcuffed. However, Paul continued to speak loudly, making physical gestures in the courtroom.

When asked to tell the court his age, Paul said that he was 23-years-old, but later stated that he was in fact, 24. It was then that the magistrate called for the defendant’s mother in an attempt to confirm the age of the young man; but upon entering the courtroom and seeing her child, the mother broke down in tears and could not respond.

“Doe call my mother. She don’t know me. I created her,” Paul told the court.

Due to this outburst, Paul’s charge(s) was not read. He was ordered to receive a psychological evaluation immediately at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

He will appear in court at a later date to be formally charged, tried and/or sentenced.

(Hermisha Rolle/Staff Reporter)

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17 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    January 11, 2010

    Hello let me inform all those Dominicans that just saying things without they know the circumstances. People that saying he not mad, not everyone that gets a break down is mad. you to can get for one reason or another, so please stop being so ignorant.

    When you all have glass windows do not throw stones.

  2. Mac-Arthur Haughton
    January 11, 2010

    He only now realises the trouble he is in and he can not accept it/ face it. In truth he maybe having a break down, but it is a long over due one. He is only now beginning to realise that actions have consequences and it must be the first time he is being held to account for his actions and like the little boy that he is he is unable to face them like the man he professes to be. They should beat him and throw cold water on him. You want to play bad man, then go to the bad man house and play with them.

  3. January 11, 2010

    If it was me i would play mad too. Anything goes in d.a.

  4. south city massive
    January 10, 2010

    he dow no mad tricks he have send him up stoky. or inject him then he will know wat is mad.

  5. Morne Pros
    January 10, 2010

    what Mad! Curtis is not no patat mad! You do the crime, you must be man enough to do the time!
    he playing mad!

  6. Hello
    January 10, 2010

    a sad case…… I’m shocked at the choices that these boys make. Prayers to The grand parents and Ms Paul who have really tried to direct his path. Staffy i agree with you.

  7. Amonrah Kobadi
    January 9, 2010

    Aunty Drugs i am a smoker and i must say that you have missed the boat. to attact someone’s religious sacrament is totally uncalled for. ganja is not a drug. all drugs are created in labs. ganja is the rastafarian sacrament just like you have your white flat bread as your sacrament in the catholic church, wine in some penticostal churches and you may want to google the american indian and see what’s theirs. i do agree that this young man do have a problem but please do not blame it on ganja. how would you feel if i said that your proposal should be recommended for all liquor drinkers etc.

    finally, can i share something with you? every party that i have been to and ganja was the used i find everyone to be so cool and as soon as you get into the rum thing then the trouble starts. if he do have a psyco problem you better hope that he take some ganja because that will be all the healing he woul need. i can assure you that if he had smoke some before comming to court, there would have been no problem.

  8. January 8, 2010

    Dat guy is a real actor man!Thahid dat should be there and he will know wat time it is…lol

  9. lol
    January 8, 2010

    curtis u dat more good! lol!

  10. Concerned
    January 8, 2010

    I hope that Curtis knows that if he not mad and he reach on the Psychiatric ward and they inject him with that med, he will get stiff.

  11. me
    January 8, 2010

    well played bro

  12. rushand
    January 8, 2010

    I SMELL A RAT, THIS IS TOO OBVIOUSA PLOY AIM AT THE INSANITY PLEA… TOO OBVIOUS. I I HAVE FAITH THATOUR GOOD PSYCHIATRIST WILL FIND HIM OF SOUND MIND AND HENCE FIT ENOUGH TO GO UP STORKY AND GET FAT ON MY INCOME TAX MONEY… HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEATEN TO SANITY RIGHT THERE IN COURT… I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MAGISTRATE

  13. Lester
    January 8, 2010

    A lawyers plot of easily walking of with his pay by proving insanity on the defendant’s part. Ii hope not.

  14. January 8, 2010

    DON’T TELL ME THAT CURTIS. YOU WERE SUCH A BRIGHT STUDENT AT THE MAHAUT JSP.

    WHY NOT KING FISHER, THAN KING GANJA ?

  15. mouth of the south
    January 8, 2010

    thats sad,,,, hopefully this young man will get the necessary care he deserves,,,,, if he was my brother i’d cry to,,,,, may be he was a promising child growing up n his condition must of hurt his mother,,,, thats sad,,,i hope she gets support from friends n family

  16. Dominican
    January 8, 2010

    Curtis is not mad at all, he is bad and don’t want to take jail.

  17. Aunty Drugs
    January 8, 2010

    Can you imagine legalizing the stuff this guy is on??? Instead of the courts being infested with the like of “Ganja King” the majority of us sensible non users would have to put up with them on a daily basis. For those blind enough not to see the effects this drug has I’m suggesting the UN construct an island just for you so that you could enjoy your drugs with fellow believers & allow the rest of us to enjoy our lives without fear of having to deal with the “brain fried tribe”.

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