A year after the death of a patient at the National Psychiatric Hospital in New Amsterdam, his mother is still awaiting justice.
Maylene Prince, the mother of Steffon Francis, told Stabroek News that her son would have celebrated another birthday last week, had he not been taken from her.
Regional Commander for Region Six Calvin Brutus said while he was not stationed in the region when the death occurred, he has since learnt that the case file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice and a filing was done at court. He further explained that the police are currently awaiting information from the court on when a recommended inquest is to begin.
This newspaper previously reported that Francis, formerly of 67 Public Road, Kitty, Georgetown and a patient at the Psychiatric Hospital in Berbice, died after a fight broke out, causing him to sustain injuries to his head.
Region Six Director of Regional Health Services Javaughn Stephen previously told Stabroek News that there was a fight between patients, which led to Francis falling and hitting his head.
An aunt of Francis, Samantha Young, had explained that she received a message from a social worker just after midnight, informing her that there was an incident resulting from some items being stolen from Francis that his mother brought earlier in the day.
She was told that when he tried to defend his property he was attacked by two other patients, resulting in him being injured and subsequently dying.
Prince said the day in question was Francis’s birthday and she took a number of items for him. “I brought up all that he like, everything them ask me for I bought and give to them. When my son came up he came up with a bag and a set of snacks, juice and everything. When me come he don’t have on a slippers, when I ask, he say them thief he slippers, them (other patients) get on me child clothes,” she said.
Prince said her son was a very kind person.
