Claims he needs help with drug addiction

There were murmurs among lawyers, police officers, and attendants of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, when a man mentioned that he threw a hot cup of soup in a woman's face so he could appear in court.

The accused man identified as Owen Mitchell, pleaded guilty with explanation to common assault. He told the court that he was homeless.

Mitchell said that he committed the act because he wanted to be brought to the court so that he could get help with his drug addiction.

similar act

The man mentioned that he had tried various methods to get help with his addiction but was never successful. He said that a friend committed a similar act and was brought before the magistrate and gained the assistance of the Drug Court.

Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser, however, told the accused that his friend was in serious trouble with the law.

According to the allegations, Mitchell was walking along King Street where homeless persons were being given soup. The allegations are that the complainant sat down with the soup in front of her when the accused man pick it up and threw it in her face.

Mitchell was remanded and will be sentenced on May 6. The court ordered that he be interviewed by the Drug Court so as to determine whether or not he needed assistance.