Former model Yugge Farrell, 22, was given antipsychotic drugs against the advice of her lawyer, defence counsel Grant Connell told the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
“… from my visits to the institution, contrary to my advice, Yugge Farrell was given medication,” he told Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett.
Connell said that his client was given Risperidone and Lithium during her court-ordered two weeks of evaluation at the Mental Health Centre.
Risperidone is an antipsychotic medicine that works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.
Risperidone is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old and to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression) in adults and children who are at least 10 years old, according to the website Drugs.com.
Risperidone is also used to treat symptoms of irritability in autistic children who are 5 to 16 years old.
The website says side effects of the medication include uncontrolled muscle movements in the face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement).
The same website says that lithium affects the flow of sodium through nerve and muscle cells in the body. Sodium affects excitation or mania.
Lithium is used to treat the manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Symptoms include hyperactivity, rushed speech, poor judgment, reduced need for sleep, aggression, and anger. Lithium also helps to prevent or lessen the intensity of manic episodes.
Farrell has been the subject of national debate since she was arrested on Jan. 4. 2018 in Kingstown and charged that on that day, she used abusive language, to wit “you dirty b***h” to Karen Duncan Gonsalves, wife of Minister of Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves, and the daughter-in-law of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge at her arraignment on Jan. 5 before Bertie Pompey, the then Kingstown Magistrate, who upheld an application by prosecutor Police Constable Corlene Samuel that Farrell be sent for psychiatric application.
Connell had protested in vain again the application, noting that it was presented without supporting evidence.
Since her hospitalisation, Farrell has appeared in videos published on the internet in which she has made a number of allegations, including that she was in a sexual relationship with Camillo, 44, which ended in 2016.
During Monday’s court hearing, Connell said that his client has a history of having been given olanzapine, another antipsychotic drug.
He said the medications that his client was given “are serious antipsychotic medications that affects the chemicals in the brain.
“Up until I saw Yugge Farrell on Thursday, she was not behaving [as she did today],” Connell said in an apparent reference to the howl-like sounds that the woman had made in court.
Farrell’s demeanour in court was in stark contrast to her quiet and composed disposition at her arraignment two weeks earlier, when she sat quietly while awaiting her arraignment and spoke only when requested to while in the dock.
“Risperidone and Lithium have certain effects, which, from what I saw transpired before Magistrate Pompey, this appears to be the second link to appear as that which she is not,” the lawyer said.
Some persons have interpreted his comments as an orchestrated effort to have Farrell legally certified as insane.
He further said that the report presented to the court was not signed by psychiatrist, an argument that Director of Public Prosecution Colin Williams countered by saying that the law does not say that the patient has to be examined by “a psychiatrist quote-unquote”.
“I am asking the court not to accept this report and to request a report from a psychiatrist, which the defence can provide,” Connell told the court.
He said Farrell was hospitalised at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Feb. 8, 2017 and was given intravenous fluids for dehydration.
“… and within 48 hours, treated with Olanzapine, an antipsychotic medication that affects the chemicals in the brain, and released as an outpatient on that strength of drug.”
He said that now, the DPP was asking for an order of the court “to support the further detention of this young lady in an institution that is not equipped to deal with anyone with the allegation of some mental instability”.
The DPP had asked the court to act within the Mental Health Act and commit Farrell for further treatment at the Mental Health Facility.
The psychiatric report was not read in court, but iWitness News understands that it says Farrell is unfit for trial.
One of Farrell’s older sisters, who did not give her name, told the media outiside the court on Monday that Farrell was given antipsychotic medication at the Mental Health Centre on the weekend.
“Yesterday (Sunday) when I went out there, she was good, so they had to give she something last night,” she said.
The dynasty can stop worrying now the DPP is stepping in.
The stink is now quite overpowering.
Yes, it is sad to see how rotten our system really is, and those in power using it against the weak. It reminds me about what happened to Marilyn Monroe.
I had heard over a week ago that they were injecting her with drugs but since I did not see it on the news sites I thought it was just rumor. The danger is when they take them off these drugs the “victim” exhibits erratic behavior and often has very strong urges to commit suicide. I knew someone who allowed himself to be given these drugs after divorcing with his wife. Getting off these drugs was the hardest thing in his life, and he almost ended his life twice during that time. Sending this young lady back to the Mental Institute and now NOT getting these drugs after this terrible disappointment may be enough for the “powers” to get exactly what they want and the Mental Instability claim will be proven to the uneducated and the threat will be gone to the “cleanliness” reputation of the dynasty . How convenient!
They have done everything possible to ruin her credibility and her career; what is left? Can anyone give this young lady hope? She is certainly guilty of a part of this (let those that are innocent cast the first stone) but does she deserve to be totally ruined and if the other party(s) involved gets away with a spanking-clean future, is that also right?
A BEST SELLER; THE SVG>>> Christine Keeler <<<SAGA OF TODAY: Wow! Wow! A Best Seller Book and top rating Caribbean Movie in the making………This entire ordeal is not even being done in tactfully. Saint Vincent! Land so beautiful,
With joyful hearts we pledge to thee
Our loyalty and love, and vow
To keep you ever free.???
That’s complete and utter madness
That’s adding Insult to Injury-DPP?
The police woman should count her blessings
Who prescribed these drugs? what goes around comes around.. Miss Farrell, you can refuse these drugs, its your right not to take them.
I think they are trying to make her incoherent. #Shitholejustice
I will try and make sure Trump puts SVG on his shithole country list, or at the very least put our leaders, police and judiciary on it.
The whole affair sound a bit suspect