Swift justice for man who police caught relieving himself in public

A man who admitted urinating in public was apparently unhappy with a one day community service sentence when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Christian Silvi, of Turtle Bay Drive, Southampton, pleaded guilty to urinating in a public place shortly after 3 a.m. yesterday and told Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves just a few hours later: “I'm only human - I have a great problem.”

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister told the court that Police officers had seen a stream of liquid flowing away from him outside of Bank of Butterfield on Reid Street yesterday at 3 a.m.

He was arrested for suspicion of urinating in a public place. Silvi, who speaks Spanish, said: “I don't speak English very well.”

Mr. Greaves asked: “Well who is speaking and how long have you been here?”

Silvi said he had lived in Bermuda for just over a year and he lived in Southampton.

“There are no public toilets in Hamilton that are open at that time of night,” he added.

Lawyer Larry Mussenden - in court on an unrelated matter - stood and asked Mr. Greaves to give Silvi a conditional discharge.

Mr. Greaves said - to applause from at least one member of the gallery: “Mr. Mussenden is a friend of the court. One day of community service.”

But after the sentence was handed down, Silvi asked Mr. Greaves: “Is there another choice - like paying money?”

Mr. Greaves gave no reply and quickly moved on to another case.

Probation officers hustled Silvi away.

Drugs found in cruisers staterooms

Two cruise ship passengers from Massachusetts have pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession.

William Sundberg, 48, from Mayne Street in Waltham pleaded guilty to having 8.31 grams of cannabis and .17 grams of cocaine.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister told the court that the Customs Officers, Police Officers and sniffer dogs came on board.

The sniffer dogs took an interest in Sundberg's room. When it was searched the dogs found home made cannabis cigarettes and cocaine. He was arrested on suspicion of importing drugs.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves fined Sundberg $500 for the cannabis and $1,000 for the cocaine. Sundberg said: “I am sorry.”

David Michael Rischitelli, 27, of Worcester, also pleaded guilty to being in possession of .83 grams of cannabis.

Mr. Bannister told the court that the Customs Officers, Police Officers and sniffer dogs came on board. The sniffer dogs took an interest in Rischitelli's cabin where a plant like substance was found in his clothes.

He was arrested and the substance was seized and was later found to be cannabis.

Rischitelli was fined $500 or 50 days in prison by Mr. Greaves.

Brandy thief wants jail time

A man who stole a bottle of Hennesey brandy asked Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves to lock him up yesterday.

Maxwell Mestapha Smith, 30, of Hill Crest, Spanish Point, pleaded guilty to stealing the liquor.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister told the court that Smith went into the Market Place on Church Street and put a bottle brandy worth $34.25 in his trouser leg.

Mr. Greaves asked: “You're not going to stop this nonsense. I am going to move the decimal point and make the fine $342.50.”

Smith said: “I can't pay, send me to jail.”

Mr. Greaves asked: “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Smith said: “I just want you to send me to jail.”

“Oh dear,” said Mr. Greaves before he lowered the fine to $150 with an August 29 deadline. “If you can't pay it then - you do the 90 days in jail.”

Magistrate abuser back in court

The St. George's man who called a magistrate a “vampire” and was jailed for contempt of court on Tuesday was given another $380 in fines yesterday.

Troy Robinson, 34, of Anchorage Lane, - wearing prison clothing and had a subdued demeanour - pleaded guilty to having no valid drivers license and speeding at 67 kilometres per hour on July 15.

Robinson had appeared in Magistrates' Court on Tuesday for unlawful damage and wilful damage. Once he was fined and told he would have to pay compensation for the items he damaged, he gave Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves a piece of his mind.

He imprisoned for 14 days on two counts of being in contempt of court. Yesterday, Mr. Greaves fined Robinson $100 or seven days in prison for having no valid license and $280 or 30 days for speeding.