In search of shelter from the rain Galveston Athelston Burke climbed the gates of Parliament and went into a nearby room.
When police officers turned up for work the following morning they found Burke fast asleep.
As a result, he ended up in the Magistrates’ ‘A’ Court where he pleaded guilty to loitering on the premises of Parliament on December 19, 2018.
In his explanation, the 39-year-old first-time offender who has no fixed place of abode told Magistrate Douglas Frederick he had no idea he had slept in Parliament.
“I was laying down and the rain came down and I went cross the road and jump over the gate to shelter from the rain. I didn’t even know it was Parliament,” said Burke, who was represented by attorney-at-law Harry Husbands.
Husbands had earlier told the court that Burke had admitted to having an alcohol and cocaine addiction and was seeking help at Verdun House.
He argued that his client had no previous convictions, which showed that he did not have the propensity to break the law, and asked for the court to extend leniency towards him.
The magistrate then asked Burke if he was serious about seeking drug rehabilitation or if he would prefer to be reprimanded and discharged for the offence.
“I want the help Sir. I don’t like the way my life is going,” he replied.
“Good answer. That is a very good answer because I was just testing you to see if you were serious about getting help,” Frederick told him.
He then remanded him to the Psychiatric Hospital where he will be assessed and it will be determined if he is a fit candidate for drug rehabilatition.
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