A MIXED jury at the Berbice Assizes unanimously agreed on Thursday, that murder accused Charles Albert was unfit to stand his trial.
Consequently, Justice Diane Inshanally ordered that the prisoner be returned to the New Amsterdam prison for continuous medical treatment for three months, before being reassessed with respect to his fitness.Earlier, Cuban trained psychiatrist, Dr. Mayda Grajales, in her evidence, said she has been attending to the inmate over the last two to three years and, during the specified period, Albert was deemed unstable.
The mental health practitioner explained that the patient would be willing to take his medication at times, while, on other occasions, he is loud and his behaviour is delusional as he relates how much wealth he possesses.
Because of that, she opined that he does not comprehend the reason for his incarceration and, as such, cannot believe he can understand the concept of the trial but, maybe, with treatment for the next three months.
Albert is currently on antipsychotic medication.
He faces a murder indictment which alleged that, on December 12, 2011, he unlawfully killed his daughter, Roletta Onica Greaves.
On Thursday, Prosecutrix Renita Singh submitted that the State is of the opinion that the accused is suffering from some defect of the mind and cannot understand the nature of the proceedings before him, neither can he properly take instructions from his counsel, Mr.Raymond Ali.
This perception was drawn from his previous trial which was aborted during the last criminal sessions, after the prisoner displayed abnormal behaviour.
Charles Albert is the second prisoner, within a month, to have been referred for psychiatric treatment.
The other murder accused, Ravindranauth Mohanlall, was deemed unfit by the jury, as well and he is expected to re-appear at the Berbice High Court at the end of six months for further assessment.
Written By Jeune Bailey Vankeric