Claudine Henry, the mother of St Ann’s Mental Hospital escapee and murder accused Sheldon Thomas, yesterday urged her firstborn son to surrender.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian at Pembroke Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Henry said if her son is killed by the authorities she would not bury him.
“I want to tell him if the State kill him his body will stay in the morgue because I not burying him. If the State take his life then they will have to bury him,” Henry said.
Henry warned her son: “I really hope if you get this clipping or see it on the news, contact me, let we go in. Don’t give the police the privilege and opportunity and advantage. Sometimes you have to surprise them, don’t give them the authority to take out your life at all.”
She said she believed her son, one of six who escaped and the only one still on the run, was frustrated and that was his reason for escaping. She said he had been incarcerated for the past 11 years and that would frustrate anyone, but she claimed he was also constantly abused by prison guards.
Henry said her son, who is accused of murder, was sent to the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre, Santa Rosa, without her knowledge and for some weeks she was unable to locate him until she reported the matter to the media. She added that the facility was not equipped with a canteen or kitchen and all food items had to be purchased at the canteen at the Remand Yard, Arouca, then transferred to inmates in Santa Rosa.
Henry, who was once the only woman to be on death row and was the first to be condemned prior to winning her case on appeal five years on, said those on the outside may not know the bitterness and anger inmates feel being locked up for years awaiting trial.
“I just want the authorities to give me some time to work with him because I don’t want that for my youth man,” Henry said, adding when her son was sent to the psychiatric hospital she told him to get as much time as possible there to “cool his head”.
“I told him ‘son, try and talk to the doctor so the doctor would give you a lil two-three months’ grace so your mind will be relaxed. Don’t try to escape, knowing you they will brand you and try to take you out.”
She also called on the Government, Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan and Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart to do what is necessary to expedite criminal cases and improve conditions for inmates on remand.
According to police, Thomas was among six inmates who escaped from the St Ann’s Hospital’s Forensic Ward between midnight and 2 am yesterday, by cutting through the burglar proofing of Ward 27.
Thomas was referred to the hospital on March 7 for observation, based on an order issued by a judge of the High Court. He had been on remand since being charged with the murder of Anthony Lemessy, of Plaisance, Mayaro, on August 19, 2004.
Thomas, 31, had last known addresses at Upper L’Anse Mitan, Carenage, and Upper Haig Street, Carenage.
When the T&T Guardian visited the Carenage area yesterday, residents said his family had moved out years ago and warned that Thomas “was not easy” and advised the T&T Guardian not to go looking for him as he was a dangerous man.
Police said the other escapees, Kyron Lewis, Maikie Hendrickson, Gabriel Solomon, Michael Thomas and Andre Harvey, were all recaptured or surrendered yesterday. Lewis was held by Guard and Emergency Branch officers, Hendrickson was held in Rio Claro by officers of the Rio Claro station and Solomon was nabbed by officers from the Siparia Station. Thomas was returned by relatives to the institution and Harvey was held on the compound.
Since the escape, the area that houses the 40 inmates was given an additional security guard, taking to five the number of officers guarding those accused of criminal activities and who were suspected of being mentally ill. A dog was also added to the security detail and the burglar proofing was reinforced the T&T Guardian was told.
Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Thomas to contact them immediately as he is considered armed and dangerous.