By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MENTALLY ill man found guilty of a damage charge was restrained after attacking another defendant in the prisoner’s dock while awaiting his own arraignment in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Joey Jolissant, 28, appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on a charge of damage.
On October 24 on Bethell Avenue, Jolissant caused $340 worth of damage to two door handles belonging to Ernange Theophile.
In the midst of court proceedings, chaos erupted before the magistrate as Jolissant attacked Sandrick Major in the prisoner’s dock, hitting him in the face with his handcuffs. Those near the fray were forced to scatter as officers of the court restrained Jolissant to the floor before briefly escorting the howling man from the room.
The defendant was later returned to court for his own arraignment. Jolissant initially pleaded not guilty to the charge; however a guilty plea was entered by the magistrate with the defendant’s assent.
A relative of Jolissant told Magistrate Vogt-Evans that the defendant suffers from mental issues for which he is on medication. This relative further informed the court that his family had just recently become aware of his condition and attributed his outburst in court to Jolissant not taking his medication.
In view of this the magistrate ordered that the defendant pay full restitution to the complainant before his release.
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