“…cause me ain’t wan deh running to court every minute, every minute”
The inmate who reportedly jumped from the observation post (OP) of the Georgetown Prisons pleaded guilty yesterday to the charge of escaping from lawful custody when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
On May 15 at Georgetown, Theon Smith, 19, of 17 Second Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara being a convicted prisoner at the Georgetown Prisons for robbery under arms, escaped from the facility.
When given a chance to respond, Smith explained to the court that he did not jump the fence of the prison but was rather out in the compound of the prison when it was “after hours,” meaning that he was not supposed to be in the compound at the time he was there.
The Acting Chief Magistrate then told Smith that based on his explanation she was going to enter a not guilty plea for him, but the defendant strongly opposed that decision. He then stated that he was indeed out of the prison yard but said it was the prison officers who had taken him there. “I din jump no fence, is dem officers carry me out deh on de road.”
The Acting Chief Magis-trate then again said, “Well because of your explanation I am going to enter a not guilty plea for you.”
“No my worship,” the defendant said again. Laughing throughout the proceedings, he said again, “I gon maintain me guilty plea cause me aint wan deh running to court every minute, every minute, I want dis matter done quick.”
According to reports, Smith had jumped from the facility’s south eastern observation post in a daring attempt to escape.
A source close to the prison had said that Smith attended service at the prison chapel and then made his way somehow to the top of the OP located at the southeastern corner of the facility at John and D’Urban streets.
“He left church and went up to the OP [observation post],” the source said. “He jump from at the top there into John Street and fractured his leg.”
The inmate’s freedom was brief as a woman who had seen him limping along D’Urban Street shortly after immediately informed the police. Smith was later remanded to prison until June 19 and his matter was transferred to Court Five.
