Grief-stricken uncle who threatened hospital staff remains on remand

The man who “conscientiously lashed out” and threatened the lives of staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) following the death of his seven-year-old nephew will remain on remand at Dodds as this island’s Chief Magistrate “ponders” his fate.

“This is a grave, grave matter in the face of all the sacrifice that these people have been making for us,” Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes said to Rodney Corey Patrick Griffith, of No. 42 Denton Road, Grazettes, St Michael who has again apologized for his actions. He will make his next court appearance on February 14.

After spending the weekend on remand Griffith appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes on Monday and pleaded guilty to using a computer on January 11 to send an electronic communication which caused Gail Gollop alarm or distress, which constituted a threat.

Griffith’s nephew Ricky Holder passed away at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on January 8 where he was receiving treatment. Following his death his parents requested that Griffith who, according to prosecutor Sergeant Victoria Taitt, is described as the deceased’s favourite uncle, be allowed to view his body. The request was allowed by Gollop who is part of the nursing staff at that department.

Three days later Gollop received a video via social media, in which she recognized Griffith. In that video he declared: “Anybody I see that deal with my nephew I gine kill them.”

The prosecutor said the complainant felt distressed and threatened by what was said as she had dealt with the child and also allowed Griffith to view his body.

The video which made the rounds on social media got the attention of the QEH’s management.

Griffith subsequently made another social media video apologizing for his actions and later turned himself in to police.

Today, his attorney Sade Harris urged the court to show leniency given that he was going through the stages of grief at the time and one of the stages was anger.

“This outburst came after the loss of his beloved seven-year-old nephew after seeing his body,” said the defence lawyer who also urged the court to impose a bond on the first-time offender saying that it would “meet the ends of justice”.

Griffith also addressed the court and for the third time in as many days proffered an apology this time as he stood in the dock.

“I want to apologise to the staff and the Board at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I am very sorry for posting the video and making the threats towards the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the staff.

“My nephew was very, very close to me, he was like my son . . . I am his favourite uncle,” said Griffith who continued: “I really love Ricky Holder very, very much and the condition that I saw him with his face swell. . . it really move my heart. I want to deeply apologise to the staff and the board.”

The Chief Magistrate who had a “fundamental problem” with Griffith’s actions said, “we are living in a strange place” where such behaviours were now commonplace.

He said “all of us” had suffered a loss at some point.

“I am sure other parents who lost children and other close relatives have been devastated by their loss. My problem with the way that the society is evolving – is with a segment of the population and it is only a segment that behaves in a certain way.” He added that people had visited scenes of accidents involving loved ones and had to restrain themselves despite their grief while the police conducted investigations.

“So you suffered a loss. “My question is what kind of social skills do we have in this place which could give this kind of reaction? A lot of you all do not seem to have any social skills. You know how often that behaviour manifests in the Accident and Emergency Department and in other departments of the QEH?” Weekes questioned.

The judicial officer stated that Griffith had an opportunity to grieve initially after the loss, and then to go home to continue to grieve and process his grief some more.

“Instead you decide to lash out at the same people who sacrificed for the same nephew. This kind of angry behaviour has now become commonplace in our young people . . . .You actually went out and in the midst of all this after having time to consider, you lash out with this kind of thing.

“You honestly believe that members of the medical fraternity are feeling safe every time they go to work now? . . .To see after they have worked conscientiously to see someone threaten [them]. How do you feel their families will feel?

“This is a serious matter. It is a serious matter as to what message we are sending out. This is a grave, grave matter in the face of all the sacrifice that these people have been making for us. I will have to ponder on this matter,” he said even as Griffith’s attorney urged the court to grant him bail pending sentencing.

Weekes replied: “Not at all, I must tell you this is a very serious situation. The internet is a serious place now . . .

To move . . . to the point where you . . .. do this kind of thing shows a certain intent about which you had a period to reflect.

“These people sacrifice too much and continue to sacrifice too much.” fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb