Friday, February 22 2013

A MAN who boarded a Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) bus and began cursing passengers and continued using obscene language even when police arrived and attempted to detain him, was yesterday ordered sent to St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital for evaluation.

Alwin Cornell, 28, of Brasso Village appeared before Couva Magistrate Gail Gonzales to answer three charges. The charges read to him alleged that on January 20 he used obscene language in a public place. A second charge was that he behaved in a disorderly manner while the third charge alleged he resisted PC Julio Vilavana in the execution of his duties.

All charges were laid by PC Vilavana of the Brasso Police Station. It is alleged that on Wednesday evening Cornell was a passenger on a bus proceeding along the Brasso/Caparo Valley Road when he began to curse passengers. The bus driver however drove to the Brasso Police Station. Police officers including PC Vilavana entered the bus in attempt to restrain the accused man. But the court heard he (Cornell) resisted PC Vilavana in his duties. The accused man was taken to the Brasso Police Station where he was charged. Police prosecutor Sgt Peter Francis yesterday told the magistrate that Cornell was an outpatient of St Ann’s Hospital. Cornell told the magistrate he was “high on rum” when he is alleged to have committed the crimes. Magistrate Gonzales asked the accused when was the last time he visited the doctor. Cornell said he was no longer a patient at St Ann’s. Gonzales ordered that Cornell be sent to St Ann’s for evaluation. The case was adjourned to March 20.