(Trinidad Guardian) – In a fit of rage on Tuesday a rape accused flung his shoe from the prisoners’ dock striking his attorney on the face as he threatened to kill him.
It took four policemen to restrain Jason Martin, 34, as he attempted to lunge at his attorney Ainsley Lucky who was standing at the bar table. The sudden violent outburst took place in the San Fernando Second Criminal Court before Justice Anthony Carmona, scores of potential jurors, assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Jeron Joseph, other attorneys, law students and court staff.
Lucky, who did not suffer any visible injuries, appeared to be in a state of shock remaining grounded even as police officers tried to restrain Martin. He had been appointed by Legal Aid to represent Martin who is already serving a life imprisonment sentence for raping a 16-year-old in October 2004.
Last week Wednesday, he had pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl and was supposed to have been sentenced on Tuesday.
As Martin was placed in the dock around 10.45 am he tried to speak to the judge. Justice Carmona advised him to speak to Lucky but he refused. Instead he complained to the judge he wanted to change his plea but Lucky was advising him to plead guilty. “This man is fibbing,” Lucky protested. Asked by Justice Carmona if he had given Lucky written instructions indicating he wanted to plead guilty, Martin said Lucky had forced him to do so.
Without warning Martin launched a brown leather shoe at Lucky, striking him on the right side of his face. No one had noticed that he had taken off the shoe. “Ah go kill yuh,” Martin shouted as three policemen tried to take him out of the dock and handcuff him.
A scuffle ensued and he managed to push down one of the officers. With the help of a fourth officer they managed to wrestle him to the ground and subdue him. He was taken out of the court in handcuffs. The incident lasted less than five minutes. Justice Carmona, who remained seated during the commotion, apologised for the outburst.
Martin had pleaded guilty to having sex with a girl under the age of 14. The State alleged that on February 14, 2005 a 13-year- old girl was on her way home when he grabbed her by the neck. The girl had known him five months prior to that day. It is alleged he pushed her into some bushes where he had sex with her. He allegedly threatened to kill her if she screamed.
After the outburst, Carmona summoned Joseph and Lucky to his chambers to discuss the matter. When court resumed Lucky said he could not proceed because he was not feeling well.
