NASSAU- An attempted murder suspect whose mugshot went viral because of savage comments about his appearance has been charged.
Shortly before his arrest, Shaquille Burrows, 25, of Malcolm Road West, complained about the unflattering mugshot as scores of Facebook users poked fun at his appearance.
Burrows makes fun of his photo
Burrows appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on Monday charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and causing damage.
He is charged with two counts of attempted murder for a shooting that injured two people on April 2.
Burrows allegedly shot Horatio Higgs and Craig Collie after an argument at a party on Blue Hill Road South.
He is also accused of endangering Perez Richardson’s life and causing $800 in damage to a Nissan Cube.
The jet ski operator did not have to enter a plea to the charges and denied bail.
A convicted inmate speaks of the abuses endured at the prison.
NASSAU-Each day, I arise to find myself in a state of utter turmoil.
A cramped 6-foot by 10-foot cell that I share with three other men is my home.
There’s no bedding, no toilet, nothing.
You probably don’t care. You’re saying prison isn’t the Ritz Carlton, it’s supposed to be hard.
But, we’re all here for different things. Whether you’re awaiting trial, convicted or here for an unpaid traffic fine, the conditions are the same.
In here, you lose our identity; you’re treated like you’re less than human. The guards don’t refer to you by your name. They call you criminal.
What’s really criminal is the way that they treat us. They beat inmates for nothing and face no consequences. You could die waiting to see a doctor in here. Some people already have.
Air-conditioned cells, but no toilets
Commissioner Charles Murphy and the Minister have been bragging to the media about the improvements at the prison.
They’ve tiled the floors and installed air conditioning in maximum security.
I really don’t understand why they would waste taxpayers’ money like that. I’d take a toilet over fancy floors and an air conditioner any day.
Who’s the real beneficiary of this work? Did this contract go out to tender?
We sleep on strips of cardboard. A Tampico bottle serves as a urinal.
My “toilet” is a five-gallon bucket and a plastic bag. The lid on the bucket does little to contain the stench.
To take a shower, I stand in garbage bag in the corner of my cell.
I put water in another Tampico bottle to shower.
Then, I pour the water that was caught on the bag into a five-gallon bucket.
Food shortages
The food is prepared in a filthy kitchen. The servers drag pots and buckets filled with food across the floor. They use a cup to scoop out our paltry rations. There are a lot of fights here because there isn’t enough food.
A meal at The Bahamas Department of Corrections
They give us a lot of bread here.
In another example of Murphy wasting taxpayers’ money, the prison no longer bakes its own bread. They spend close to $500,000 per year on bread.
Who’s benefiting from this?
The prison has changed its name to the Department of Corrections. But there’s nothing constructive to do here, so we pass the time talking about crime.
Human Rights violations
Commissioner Murphy told a blatant lie when he told the media that inmates aren’t mistreated.
Amnesty International and the U.S. in its state reports have for years condemned the inhumane conditions at the prison.
In recent years, the prison has refused these groups permission to see the appalling prison conditions for themselves.
This is why Commissioner Murphy, a deacon, can lie stone-faced to the public about the conditions at the prison.
This prison needs the attention of the Bahamian people.
We won’t be caged forever and the brutality we endure affects all citizens as there is no reform.
You’re probably wondering where I got this phone. I got it from one of the criminals that work here.
NASSAU- A single mother has been sentenced to six months in prison for trying to travel on a fake COVID-19 test.
Jasmine Pyfrom, 21, of Matthew Town, Inagua, was detained at LPIA on April 7 after a COVID-19 ambassador suspected her test was fraudulent.
A Doctors Hospital official confirmed that the test result was fake.
Pyfrom told police that her stepfather sent the bogus PCR-test result to her phone.
Pyfrom, 21, of Inagua, had planned to travel to Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
She pleaded guilty to possession of a forged document and uttering a forged document at her arraignment before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans today.
In passing sentence, the magistrate considered Pyfrom’s age and lack of antecedents.
However, she said the court had to send a strong message that such behaviour was unacceptable.
Pyfrom could have been jailed for up to five years.
FREEPORT-A former court clerk was sentenced Thursday for stealing hundreds of dollars in traffic fines.
Marilyn Forbes, 35, stole $650 and altered records to cover up the theft.
She pleaded guilty to stealing by reason of employment, falsification of accounts and acquisition of the proceeds of criminal conduct.
Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt fined Forbes $5,000, or six months’ imprisonment as part of a plea bargain. She also has to repay the stolen money.
Authorities began an investigation after a man was arrested for traffic tickets that he thought had been settled.
Forbes was arrested and charged in connection with the matter last month.
NASSAU- A man accused of shooting at two women has been charged.
Fenron Delano Ferguson, the owner of Ron’s Sales, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes Thursday charged with two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Prosecutors say Ferguson, 23, shot at the women on April 4 at Faith United Way.
Ferguson was not required to enter plea to the charges.
Magistrate Forbes remanded Ferguson to prison because he lacks the jurisdiction to consider bail for the offences .
However, Ferguson can apply for bail in the Supreme Court
NASSAU- A man accused of touching his daughter in a sexual manner while watching porn has been charged with indecent assault.
Prosecutors say the 43-year-old of New Providence committed the sex crimes in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
The alleged victim is now 20 and the assaults alleged started when she was eight years old.
The alleged perpetrator was not required to enter pleas to charges when he appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes today as he will face trial in the Supreme Court.
