Gov’t to find suitable place to detain mentally ill murder accused

Steadroy Banjamin

​

By Zya Williams

Amidst the country’s overcrowded psychiatric facility and the inadequacy of His Majesty’s Prison to accommodate mentally ill individuals, Public Safety Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin faces the challenging task of securing appropriate detention for Ziggy Beazer, a murder accused diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2020.

Beazer is accused of the murder of 64-year-old Leroy Caesar, with the altercation reportedly occurring in their shared cell at St John’s Police Station on December 29, 2021.

Recent proceedings in the High Court revealed Beazer’s ongoing psychological instability.

In light of this, the court has tasked Benjamin with finding a suitable facility where Beazer can receive necessary psychiatric care.

Justice Ann Marie Smith has further mandated that a medical practitioner oversee Beazer’s treatment and submit reports every six months regarding his fitness to stand trial, with the first report due no later than October 11.