GOVERNMENT Psychiatrist Dr Bhairo Harry, who is currently studying the mental state of Ryan Bob-Semple, who has been charged with the murder of nine-year-old Shaquan Gittens, requested of Magistrate Ann McLennan last Thursday more time with the accused to study his family and mental background.

At the last court appearance, Dr Harry was supposed to address the court on the findings of the report to determine Bob-Semple’s mental state for trial; however, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, operating from the Office of the Director of the Public Prosecutions (DPP), indicated that the doctor had asked for more time to see Semple in order to prepare a background report. The prosecutor said the accused was seen on three occasions by the psychiatrist.
The grandmother of the accused Ms Douglas, told Magistrate McLennan that she made an effort to visit Dr Harry, but was not permitted to see him. Douglas further related that Semple grew up with her.
Semple’s attorney-at-law, Mr Paul Fung-a-Fat attested that it is the fourth or fifth time since his client has been coming to court, awaiting the psychiatric report.
The prosecutor then requested an adjournment of two weeks, and the matter was put off to September 22.
The partially decomposed body of Gittens was found in a trench in the South Ruimveldt Park backlands.
Semple is accused of committing this offence between April 1 and 4 at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown.
Since his first court appearance, a psychiatric report was ordered by former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. The matter was first called on April last and since then the court had several adjournments, awaiting the psychiatric report.
According to reports, Semple saw the little boy walking at night on Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt when he grabbed him. He allegedly dragged him to an uninhabited area where he tied the victim’s hands and sodomized him while choking him until he passed out. Subsequently, the accused reportedly dumped Gittens into a trench.