Sunday, September 28, 2025

Judge wants special system for mentally ill

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A High Court judge has called for a system to be put in place to ensure inmates with mental health issues, who are given lengthy sentences, are reviewed on a regular basis.

“I think it is something that everybody would have to get together and work out how it goes because there needs to be a proper system with regards to who the judge is, who the prosecutor is or who the attorney is,” Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell said.

“The parties need to get together and set out a regime for cases and say this is the procedure.”

She made the comments as triple killer Ramario Antonio Roach reappeared before her in the No. 4 Supreme Court.

Roach, 22, of Ocean Breeze, River Bay, St Lucy, had pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing (manslaughter) Tyrone Austin on December 18, 2018; unlawfully killing his mother Joann Roach between January 18 and 21, 2019, and unlawfully killing university lecturer Sarah Sutrina between January 20 and 22, 2019.

He had originally been arraigned with their murders but pleaded not guilty to the capital offence. The State accepted the manslaughter pleas by reason of Roach’s diminished responsibility. (HLE)

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1 COMMENT

  1. From the short statement here, I wonder if there were any signs of mental illness which was ignored?

    Because you can tell when people are seeking help by their actions.

    We sometimes laugh it off and call the person crazy…..

    Well yes! They are asking you to help them the only way they know how.

    Every citizen should be educated in how to observe the signs of mental illness.

    When a person commits a crime; when he/she is arrested they should go through a mental evaluation process then placed in the correct facility.
    Prison without the correct medicines is not doing the public or the person any good. Especially if the person will be rejoining the public in future years.

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