The High Court was plunged into a state of confusion as murder convict Anthony De Paul Hope used a makeshift knife to pick his handcuffs in an attempt to escape lawful custody yesterday afternoon.
Hope, called ‘Papa’ along with co-accused Ralph ‘Nick’ Tyndall were expected to be sentenced by Justice Roxane George for the murder of Colleen Forrester, whose body was discovered in the septic tank of the William Street property she was caretaker of. He was later jailed for 62 years.
Awaiting the commencement of the sentencing hearing, members of the public were seated inside the courtroom when a commotion outside captured the attention of the seated persons.
Venturing outside to the screams of “murderer!”, persons were seen peering over the balcony where Hope was spotted lying face down on the ground surrounded by security personnel.
While some curious onlookers questioned whether he jumped off the balcony to elude justice, others explained that the murder accused managed to slip out of his handcuffs and attempted to make a run for it.
Not being able to make it very far, an unshackled Hope was seen being pulled off of a High Court Police officer while prison wardens and other officers sought to restrain the man.
During the struggle, Hope kept shouting that he did not want to go to prison. He was subsequently subdued and escorted to the holding cell.
According to reports reaching this newspaper, Hope had in his possession a knife modelled out of the bed springs from the prison as well as a cellphone concealed in the crotch of several layers of boxers.
After everyone satisfied their curiosity, persons ventured back into the courtroom, however, they were subsequently ordered to exit so as to facilitate individual searches of the persons entering the courtroom.
The measures to prevent anything else of a similar nature from happening did not stop there as other officers entered the courtroom asking persons with bags to leave their bags at the police outpost or be barred from entering the room. Having complied with the orders given, persons returned to their seats and as they patiently awaited the sentencing, they voiced their concern at what they had just witnessed.
Having delayed the hearing for a little over an hour, a visibly ruffled Hope entered the room in shackles accompanied by his co-accused Ralph Tyndall. Security in the room had visibly increased as several court marshals, prison wardens and other members of law enforcement crowded key sections of the courtroom, including the prisoner’s dock.
Hope entered the dock and sat with his head down, avoiding all possible eye contact, nevertheless, this did not stop anyone from observing the injury to his eye that he sustained as a result of the scuffle.
With a swollen right eye, Hope maintained his silence until he was given his opportunity to address the court in relation to his sentencing.
Hope apologized to the Judge for the incident. Although she noted Hope’s apology, Justice George explained that she was not permitted to take into consideration his unlawful act.
The sentencing hearing continued smoothly from that point on, while extra precautions were taken when the men were escorted out of the building and into a waiting prison van destined for Camp Street prison.
