Emotions ran high at Supreme Court yesterday as hit-and-run driver Patrick Richardson Jr was jailed for four years for causing the crash that killed La-Nae Woodley and seriously injured her cousin, Deidre Morgan.

The tensions culminated with Ms Woodley’s father, Dean Eve, being arrested in the court precincts on suspicion of contempt of court.

It is unclear exactly what transpired within the building but it resulted in Mr Eve being detained and then taken down to Hamilton Police Station.

He is expected to return to court this morning to be dealt with by Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons.

Justice Simmons had warned the packed public gallery at the start of the sentencing hearing that she would treat any disruption to the hearing extremely seriously.

Just before she passed sentence on Richardson, and after Mr Eve had been arrested, she added: “I made myself very clear earlier that if anyone behaves in any way that disrupts proceedings it will be a contempt of court and you will be arrested and held in custody until I am ready to deal with you.

“The court will not shirk its responsibility. Don’t sit there expecting justice for your loved ones if you cannot obey the rule of law.”

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