A man was yesterday sentenced to 10 months imprisonment when he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell.
James Hatton, 40, of 255 Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was found guilty of escaping from lawful police custody on August 20, 2012, at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Police Corporal Denise Booker stated that on the day in question, Hatton was a patient at the Male Surgical Ward of the hospital; he had a gunshot wound and was a suspect in a robbery under arms. She said that at the time of the incident Hatton was under police supervision at the hospital.
Booker related that around 07:50 hrs, Hatton was secured to the hospital bed by handcuffs. She said that when the officer in charge went to visit him he was not there and a search was carried out around the hospital but Hatton was not found. Hatton turned himself in on August 21, 2012 at the Brickdam Police Station.
However during yesterday’s hearing Hatton told the court that he told the officer that he needed to go home to pick up some personal items. He claimed that he gave the officer $5,000 and the officer told him to return at a certain time.
Hatton who was unrepresented by an attorney told the magistrate that he had been in prison for 8 months and asked that she be lenient with her sentencing.
He was subsequently sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for the offence.
