A HIGH COURT judge has ordered the Commissioner of Prisons to ensure the safety and security of remanded murder accused Frankie Jamal Bartholomew, aka Fishie, and put him in an area of the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) where there is 24-hour surveillance by prison officers.
Justice Betsy Ann Lambert-Peterson, as the emergency judge on the weekend, granted the order just after noon on Sunday during an emergency sitting.
Bartholomew’s attorneys rushed to court seeking emergency relief after Bartholomew was stabbed and almost strangled on Saturday, in an apparent attempt on his life.
The judge also ordered Bartholomew’s attorneys to file a separate affidavit saying if he is in MSP in a separate or shared cell by 9 am on Monday.
The application alleges that the prison authorities failed to take steps to secure Bartholomew’s life by having him under constant guard in a separate area and cell that is inaccessible by other prisoners.
On Wednesday, Bartholomew and five others were acquitted of the 2009 murder of Chivon Israh Lewis, aka Tupac, in Morvant.
He was not immediately released since he is awaiting a re-trial for the murder of a man after a WASA fete, also in 2009.
The attempt on Bartholomew’s life took place early on Saturday, at about 6 am, the application said. Bartholomew was visited later on Saturday by his attorney who also provided affidavit evidence in support of the application.
Bartholomew was asleep in his cell when he was awakened by two inmates, whom he (Bartholomew) alleged were members of a Muslim gang, and who attempted to strangle him with a “long cord,” possibly a phone cord which was wrapped tightly around his neck.
While struggling to loosen the cord, Bartholomew screamed for help. Another man, wearing rubber gloves, shoved his hand into Bartholomew’s mouth and down his throat to prevent him from screaming.
[caption id="attachment_1028153" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Wayne Sturge, one of the attorneys representing murder accused Frankie Jamal "Fishie" Bartholomew. FILE PHOTO - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
While this was taking place, Bartholomew felt himself being stabbed with a sharp object. The ordeal lasted 15 minutes, leaving him bleeding profusely after which he passed out.
Sturge said when he met his client, the inmate dark marks and ligature grooves around his entire neck. There were also dark marks around his mouth. In his mouth, there were also injuries including torn tissue. The left side of his face also had marks and his left eye was swollen and bleeding.
There were several stab wounds to his upper torso and close to his stomach, the attorney said.
Sturge said Bartholomew expressed fear for his safety and security.
He said Bartholomew begged a superintendent of the prison to remove him from that cell and put in in a more secure area. Bartholomew claimed being told this would only be done if he gives up the names of prison officers who are trafficking contraband items in the prison.
“I am informed by the applicant/intended claimant and verily believe sa
