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Magistrate takes Gov’t to task for mentally ill people

- no mental health report done for Sonnel G. Hanley
Mr Sonnel G. Hanley was released from prison on Wednesday May 17, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Sonnel G. Hanley is said to be of unsound mind and is well known for slapping persons, including tourists.

His assault on persons has landed him in court on a few occasions and has seen him spend time in prison.

On Wednesday May 17, 2017 Mr Hanley was released after being in prison since October 2016.

He was freed after the Crown could not continue with the case against him because of their failure to produce a mental health report on him.

This is when the presiding magistrate Mrs Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo took the government to task stating that "The powers that be" needs to come together to establish a place for persons of unsound mind.

She, however, ordered Hanley to take responsibility for his own health and well-being, telling him he needs to ensure that he goes to the hospital to continue getting his ‘shots’. This was after he told the court he was receiving his medication while in prison.

Similar case in 2014

Back in 2014 Mr Hanley was in a similar scenario after being locked up for more than a year. At that time he was arrested and charged for being involved in an altercation with a woman, Roseanne G. Richards. He had allegedly struck the woman about her body after she refused his request for money on March 25, 2013. He had also reportedly slammed the woman against a water cooler.

In the most recent incident, he allegedly slapped a male.

22 Responses to “Magistrate takes Gov’t to task for mentally ill people”

  • sad to say but (18/05/2017, 09:40) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    THIS GOVERNMENT ONLY CARE ABOUT RICH OUTSIDERS
    • nonsense (18/05/2017, 14:40) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      What happen to the civil servants working for Government that are responsible for dealing with these things? We sit back and let these people get away with ROBBERY! They get a salary every month and half of them do nothing for it. You expect Ronnie to leave his office and deal with Sonnel and others? What are the workers doing?
  • myrun (18/05/2017, 09:41) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    She need to go home
  • Helpus (18/05/2017, 09:55) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh lawd, the begging around Bobby's and Simple Delicious starts. I know women who are afraid of this man. He follows people around wid he big gutts self. He should not be let out. When he chop the wrong person, the Government going take the blame again. A man like him was let out in St. Thomas, next thing they found him eating a hand he had limbed off at one of the beaches. Lock up these mad people before the tourists stop coming to our shores. Mine Eh!
    • Woman (18/05/2017, 14:49) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Helpus, I am 100% with you on this. When I see him I go the other way. I just got me some pepper spray. Trust me, if I see him, my finger is going to be on the pepper spray trigger. He get to close to me I am going to pepper spray him in the face.
  • one eye (18/05/2017, 10:14) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    This man just lazy
  • wize up (18/05/2017, 11:40) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Us only important just before an Election Day: we go an extra mile ensuring tourist are comfortable in BVI however not much is done for some of the residents: sometimes prison is not the solution for these guys(some have mental issues while other need to simply get off that pipe)
  • Nuisance (18/05/2017, 11:44) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope when somebody put a good ass whooping on he they do not look yto lock them up.
  • Xxx (18/05/2017, 12:17) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Leave the man i just give him 98 cents....he got bigger
  • Yep (18/05/2017, 13:09) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Same problem Virgin Gorda. They steal practically everyday for years (none specific), and nothing is done. Check police records for the amount of reports.
  • Ras I (18/05/2017, 13:16) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ones VG has been stealing for years and get away with it. Police say it isn't their responsibility, but the mental health department.

    I guess if your mentally ill, you could get away with murder.
  • tourist legacy (18/05/2017, 14:15) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you visit Tortola you get slapped by a fat bum
  • So sad (18/05/2017, 14:17) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    So sad for my country...can't deal with one lil man causing havoc
    • wize up (19/05/2017, 06:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ so sad: sorry we already give your money to BVI Airways and Bandy Wine Bay Beach project!!!
  • gkefkkdakxq (18/05/2017, 14:29) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does he not have any family members that can help him .
  • lord o. (18/05/2017, 17:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does he vote.? I think he is a little mad but he knows what he is doing? He is a strong dude. He will hurt someone very badly one day.
  • Kay (19/05/2017, 11:17) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Families always get away when it comes their family members who are in need of help. so, the answer blame the government. I am not saying that the government can't help but don't put all the responsibility on the government officers.
  • foxy (19/05/2017, 11:40) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    poor falla
  • My girl (19/05/2017, 17:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The efforts of his shills to rehabilitate him are embarrassing.
  • VI Lady (20/05/2017, 17:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I personally know sonnel and I'm not sorry he is rude disrespectful and not even his family wants him around them as he Dun look to fight off down to he father who he was staying wid last in free bottom sonnel dun realize when he goes to prison he gets to eat not beg on the streets and a roof ova his head to sleep not out in the open and he sees how easy it is to get in as well just slap or tump off somebody and up 2 balo he goes u ain't see when ever he get lock up how happy he is the last time sonnell was in court he. Begged the magistrate to keep him locked up !?! Who does that it's not that he's mental or crazy cuz he isn't he got he good sense cuz he knows what he's doing when he's doing it now that he's out watch and see just wait and see he's going to lash somebody AGAIN just so he can go back balo I just wishing it NOT 2 be me or anyone close to me!
  • shark (22/05/2017, 17:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only when election comes these mental ill patients have a value.the other day i was walking through the park,this guy sitting in the park,there were a few kids in the park playing,this man had his penis out masturbating and calling the kids to come.i though that this was so sickening.if they were my kids trust me i be doing some serious jail time for him.
  • The EastEnd Guy. (24/05/2017, 10:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    .
    .MYYYYYYYYYY GOD, is just one Kid with mental problems and the BVI can handle this Kid properly, he just need to be in a special place to treat people like him JUST THAT.

    MY GOSHHHHH BVI is only one JUST ONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

    COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

    COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.



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