Troubled Joel Hamilton must get psychiatric evaluation, court orders after harm charge

Published by BBNTEAM at November 28, 2024

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Posted: Thursday, November 28, 2024. 5:05 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Ladyville resident 21-year-old Joel Hamilton is on remand at the Belize Central Prison pending a psychiatric evaluation after a charge of harm could not be read to him in court.

Hamilton is accused of harm to a friend of his, one Darrell Grant, after they got into a fight.

In court, Hamilton was non-cooperative – head hung, moving slowly, being slow to answer the Magistrate and avoiding eye contact. But his mother said he had refused to visit the Port Loyola Health Clinic which offers psychiatric evaluation. She told the court that he was prone to being indecisive and changing his mind, given to fits of anger and aggression.

Hamilton was previously charged earlier this year with an assault of his brother but the charge was dropped. Under prodding from the Magistrate, he claimed that Grant hit him first and that he had filed a complaint but Grant has yet to be charged.

The court has now ordered an evaluation and remanded Hamilton until January 24, where it will be determined how to proceed if Hamilton is in a state of mind to understand the court proceedings. As he was led away his mother tearfully told him, “I love you… I want you to listen to the officers. They are here to help you. Be good…”

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