National Psychiatric  Hospital patient Jermaine Benjamin,  who reportedly went berserk and  attacked  five inmates with a piece of wood  at the mental health institution earlier this month, has been charged with the murder of a fellow inmate.

Security was heightened during the man’s court appearance as  Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Persid Edmond insisted that a uniformed rank stand beside the shackled prisoner as the  charge was read.

At his first court appearance yesterday the 27-year-old defendant,  formerly of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, was not required to plead to the indictable charge. He was denied bail and ordered to return to court on May 25 for report and fixture.

On April 30 last  the defendant allegedly armed himself with a piece of wood  and attacked  unsuspecting patients at the mental health institution, resulting in Gregory Mendonza, 45,  Errol Leow, 37, Rickford Charles, 30, Harriram Nauth, 75, and Ramnarine Laljit  suffering serious  injuries.

Eight days after the incident Nauth succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Medical sources revealed that the cause of death was cranial  haemorrhage.