Psych evaluation for man charged with threatening to kill father

Beres Scipio, accused of threatening to kill his father, has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.
Scipio pleaded not guilty to a charge of using threatening language when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. However, the magistrate ordered the evaluation after his father said he was afraid of being around him and his mother explained that he was of unsound mind and had been a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPH) psychiatric ward.

It was alleged that on February 1, at Middle Street, McDoom, he made use of threatening language to his father, Fitz Scipio.

Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that on the day in question, at 41 Middle Street, McDoom, the two had a misunderstanding, during which the defendant became annoyed and picked up a knife and threatened to kill his father.

Beres, however, when given a chance to relate his side of the story, told the court that he did not pick up a knife on his father or threaten to kill him. He further said that he has great respect for the man and would never do such a thing. He said he just threatened to go to the police station and make a report.

But Fitz Scipio, when given a chance to speak, told the court he was afraid of his son, who he said once set his house on fire. He referred to him as a “terrorist” and said he does not want to be around him.

He revealed that he once sent him to the drug treatment centre (Salvation Army) to get treatment, while his wife told the court that her son has been of unsound mind for about nine years.

Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry subsequently informed the accused that she would be sending him for a seven-day psychiatric evaluation to decide whether or not he was fit enough to stand trial.

Beres informed the magistrate that he was fit and ready to stand trial at the moment, but she told him that this was to be determined by the medical report that she will receive after his psychiatric evaluation.

Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman had no objection to Beres being granted bail but had noted that he needed to relocate.
When asked by the magistrate where he would go, Beres identified a friend but failed to provide the court with a definite address.
Beres was sent to receive a psychiatric evaluation at the GPH.
The case is to be heard again on February 11.