Slash-attacker to be examined by two psychiatrists
A Warwick slasher must be examined by two psychiatrists who will determine if he is too insane to remain in Westgate.
Eli Rashid Hill, 29, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in September to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on March 11, 2004.
But in Supreme Court yesterday, Mrs. Justice Charles-Etta Simmons said: ?This matter has a rich history?.
In June, Hill was sentenced to six years imprisonment and six years probation for slashing Rushana Tannock in October, 2003 as she rode her bike home in rainy weather.
However, while Hill was on remand, awaiting trial he attacked two prison guards. In May, he was charged with two separate charges of intending to do grievous bodily harm to Prison officer Otis Warren Phillips on March 10 at Westgate, where he is currently incarcerated and was also charged with intent to do bodily harm to Westgate officer, Gary Smith, on the same day.
In the arraignments session in Supreme Court last September, Hill was remanded in custody until October when social inquiry and psychiatric reports were to be presented.
However, in October, the matter was set for mention for December 1, 2004, because ?the court had concerns that both doctors needed to appear for sentencing?, Crown counsel Vinette Graham-Allen said yesterday.
?We needed two psychiatric reports and neither doctor was available until January,? Mrs. Justice Simmons explained in court yesterday. ?It comes down to a question of fitness,? she said.
The psychiatrists ? who must determine whether Hill is insane and whether he should be held at Westgate or in a secure mental hospital ? were subpoenaed to appear in Supreme Court on Friday, January 28.
Hill told Mrs. Justice Simmons that he was doing fine in Westgate, he was on medication, keeping out of trouble and was not working.
He told her he was not taking any classes at prison but stayed in his cell all of the time.
?Once we determine if we can sentence you, things might look different then,? Mrs. Justice Simmons told him. ?But until then you are remanded in custody until the 28th?.
