KINGSTON, Jamaica – A 27-year-old woman who accompanied her friend to have her matter heard before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, caught a case of her own after an exchange between court officials and herself turned boisterous.

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell had to halt regular court proceedings after being constantly interrupted by the loud altercation outside the courtroom.

According to officials, the accused, Mickayla Simms, was sitting in the waiting area with her friend when she was advised to fix her blouse as her midriff was allegedly exposed. Officials say the woman responded negatively to instructions and proceeded to spew verbal assaults.

Officers were subsequently asked to escort the woman off the grounds when she attempted to leave by herself. In an attempt to accost her, it is reported that the woman became even more boisterous. The fracas caused Judge Burrell to ask that she be brought to chambers.

Upon making her entrance, Burrell, astonished by the woman’s diminutive appearance said, “no man, is this nice lady outside behaving like that.” However, the judge became quickly annoyed after hearing how the ‘drama’ unfolded outside the court. Burrell, referring to the woman as a ‘silly rabbit’ said persons ought to know that when they step onto court grounds, it cannot be “business as usual.”

“I have a deep problem with anyone who thinks they can come to this place and think that it is business as usual,” she said. “Silly rabbit. You thought that it made sense to go toe-to-toe with the police?”

Simms, in her defence, said she felt disrespected in how the officers communicated with her. “Everybody have feelings,” she told the judge. But Judge Burrell in scolding the young lady, warned her to treat the courthouse like a “cathedral” before handing her over to the police to be charged.

-Shereita Grizzle