By Azara Lavia
Azara.lavia@antiguaobserver
The high profile murder trial of Brittany Jno-Baptiste entered its fifth day on Thursday with critical testimony from child and adult psychiatrist, Dr James King.
The accused on Wednesday admitted to murdering 66-year-old Wendy Jane Finch at her Piccadilly home on October 4, 2021.
This is despite her pleading not guilty to the charge earlier this year which prompted the start of the trial.
So far during the proceeding, it has been revealed that Finch was found lying in a pool of blood with no vital signs and a pliers in her ear.
Pathologist Dr Lester Simon, who stood as an expert witness, previously testified that Finch died from head trauma and massive blood loss caused by the attack.
Yesterday, Dr King shared that he conducted a psychiatric evaluation of Jno-Baptiste on January 13, 2022 and submitted his findings to the magistrate’s court later that month.
Attorney Wendel Alexander is representing the accused.
Dr King asserts that Jno-Baptiste’s mental state, impaired by Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder, rendered her incapable of understanding the nature of her actions at the time of the incident.
According to the psychiatrist, such heavy cannabis use significantly increases the risk of psychosis.
He also described Jno-Baptiste’s troubled past, revealing that she was bullied and labelled “crazy” and “dunce” in school by her peers, ultimately leading her to drop out in third form.
He added that, according to her mother, she suffered from Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in her teenage years.
He further testified that Jno-Baptiste turned to sex work at a young age and developed a dependency on cannabis, smoking seven to eight joints daily by the age of 18.
Dr King also stated that her fellow villagers of Liberta where she formerly resided, addressed her as “crazy”, and shared an incident where on one occasion she stood outside staring at the sun for a long period.
The psychiatrist recounted alarming episodes from Jno-Baptiste’s history, including incidents where she allegedly consumed a dead dog, ate dog faeces, and attempted suicide.
He concluded that on the day of the murder, Jno-Baptiste was experiencing cannabis-induced psychosis, a condition characterised by hallucinations, delusions, and a distorted sense of reality.
During the mental evaluation by Dr King, she told him that a voice commanded her to “kill Finch and join Ras Freeman”.
Dr King explained that this disorder is distinct from other psychotic conditions as it is specifically triggered by cannabis use, particularly strains with high levels of THC.
Jno Baptiste is a former worker at Ras Freeman where her duty was to clean cannabis.
The trial, which is taking place in the High Court before Justice Tundre Bakre, continues today.
