What began as an attempt to get a man to return to the holding area after he appeared in court yesterday, ended in an exchange of words between a police inspector and an attorney-at-law.

The man in the middle, the accused Ricardo Richards, was making yet another entertaining appearance before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court. He refused to leave the dock and return to the holding cell, claiming, "Dem a go kill me."

He also told the court that, "Me wah go home for Christmas."

When Richards realised that he was to be returned to the holding cell, he sat down and wrapped his legs and hands through the railing of the dock area and held on tightly where he stayed for at least half hour.

Not even the pleas of Resident Magistrate (RM) Judith Pusey nor the police officers on court duty, nor even the comforting words of attorneys could convince him to free himself, as he insisted that he would be killed if he was returned to police custody.

When it became evident that all those in court had failed in their attempt to get Richards to return to the holding area, RM Pusey summoned one of the police inspectors in charge of the court to intervene.

However, the matter took a twist, as after the police inspector arrived in the courtroom and was briefed by RM Pusey, he became involved in an exchange of words with an attorney, in regards to Richards removal.

The incident took place after the attorney was believed to have uttered something aimed at the inspector which the cop disapproved of. The cop had told the attorney that he should help him to remove Richards from the court.

At one stage the attorney was so bothered that he even uttered to the police inspector, "that's why unno cyah betta," and dared the cop to "lock me up, nuh."

The two later ended their exchange of words as the inspector tried to convince Richards to free himself from the dock. However, he too, was unsuccessful as Richards stayed put.

Court proceedings later continued with Richards still hanging on to the dock.

After half hour, Richards finally got up and exited the courtroom with a police offficer.

Richards is charged with intercepting free passage after it was alleged that he blocked a road in the Corporate Area.

He has been in police custody for awhile as he is deemed mentally unstable. He is set to return to court on December 20, after he visits the psychiatrist again.