A senior accused of a series of threats on a prosecutor within the main court building in Hamilton on Friday is on remand awaiting the April 1 Arraignments session after Maxanne Anderson, the senior magistrate, deplored what she called a rise in attempts to intimidate the judiciary.

Hyman Bartley, 68, of Middle Road, Southampton, was not required to enter a plea, as he opted to have his case heard in the Supreme Court.

Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Magistrates’ Court that Mr Bartley faced seven charges of offences “alleged to have occurred in the precinct of these courts” — the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building.

He was accused of threatening to do injury or cause detriment to Kael London, Crown counsel, on account of his prosecutorial responsibilities, as well as attempting to obstruct, pervert, prevent or defeat the course of justice.

Mr Bartley was charged with obstructing Mr London while he was engaged in the discharge of the duties of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions — and that, by spoken word and conduct, with intent to cause alarm, threatened Mr London with injury to his person.

He was further charged that in a public place, namely the court building, used abusive, insulting or offensive words, namely “p***y prosecutor”; used offensive words, namely “shut the f*** up” and used threatening behaviour.

Ms Anderson said the courts were seeing “an alarming number of cases where it is alleged or persons are convicted of threatening police officers, judicial officers or those assisting the courts in the justice process”.

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