Prisoner on domestic violence charge attempts suicide outside courtroom

Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 May 2014, 21:03 by GxMedia

Moments before a man was about to appear before a city magistrate for alleged domestic violence, he attempted to commit suicide by drinking poisonous agro-chemicals and collapsed just before entering he courtroom.

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) sources said 33-year old Shannon Hooper was still in a critical but conscious condition. Medical personnel believed that he consumed a combination of two chemicals.  

He was expected to be moved from the Accident and Emergency Unit to the Male Medical Ward late Tuesday afternoon.

Hooper was accused of abusing his reputed wife and was awaiting a hearing outside Court 3 when he ingested the substance. Moments before, the woman ignored Hooper when he tried to speak with her.

The man began vomiting, staggered and eventually collapsed outside the courtroom, resulting in the charge not being read to him. He was rushed to the hospital in a van that usually transports prisoners to and from the jails.

The woman has already filed for child-support and a restraining order because she was very scared for her life due to his abusive behaviour.