After spending six nights with no sleep at Her Majesty’s Prison, Dodds, convicted man Richard Delisle Arthur can now await his fate in the comfort of his Maynards, St Peter home.
The expert marksman, who had been remanded last Wednesday until July 19 pending sentencing on an ammunition conviction, was granted $150,000 bail in the No. 2 Supreme Court today on medical grounds.
Last Friday he approached the court for bail after spending just a little over 48 hours on remand. That petition was denied and a request was made for his doctor to make an appearance to advise on his medical challenges for which he had produced a medical certificate.
Dr Carlisle Goddard took the stand today and informed Justice Randall Worrell through questions by Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim that the 57-year-old was suffering from hypertensive heart disease, generalised anxiety disorder, and was in the care of a cardiologist.
The medical physician and internal medicine specialist also disclosed that although he tried to see his patient over the weekend, he was only able to do so yesterday.
Arthur, he said, was “quite dishevelled”.
“He was tearful, he was very unsettled at the time, anxious to . . . being agitated. When I enquired about his status, he said that he had not slept since last Thursday,” the witness said.
Dr Goddard added that Arthur had not seen a medical doctor since he was remanded.
“I had a chat with the prison warden who indicated that they were severely short of staff and they were unable to provide round-the-clock medical care and that they were only seeing persons particularly on the morning shift. So any night medications could not be given because there was no staff available . . . That is not the ideal medical setting that I would advise,” Dr Goddard stated.
He revealed that given Arthur’s medical challenges, “It is not in [his] best interest to be incarcerated at this time.”
“Whatever the court outcome, he will have to sort that out. But I think in the interim [what can be done] is to prepare him mentally, to make sure that he has access to medication as well as put in place proper medical referrals should he have breakdowns . . . .”
Dr Goddard however explained under cross examination by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale that if it was the court’s ruling that Arthur be incarcerated, the necessary systems must first be put in place for him or anyone suffering with similar ailments.
“If all of those things are available and he has the proper treatment then if that is the will of the court that he be incarcerated he can be managed. He would have to be seen on a medical basis until he is settled because he will escalate further until he plateaus and. . . as long as there is a management plan in place to treat that, then he can be treated, but it has to be in place,” the doctor said.
Back in February 2012 Arthur was granted $50,000 bail and ordered to report to the District ‘E’ Police Station twice weekly.
However, having been found guilty by a nine-member jury of having 102 rounds of ammunition in his possession on January 31, 2012 without a valid licence, Justice Worrell today increased the bail sum to $150,000 with orders that he report to the same police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. His passport will also remain with the court.
“Very well sir, I will comply,” said Arthur, who had been sitting quietly in the dock. Moments before he had informed the judge that “all my firearms I handed over in 2012”.
After getting the necessary documents in place Arthur walked out of the Whitepark Road Supreme Court around 4:46 p.m. accompanied by family members.
He returns to court on July 19.
fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb
