In the ongoing murder trial of Brittany Jno-Baptiste, forensic psychiatric testimony has become a focal point, with expert evidence suggesting that cannabis-induced psychosis may have impaired the defendant’s ability to make rational decisions during the fatal assault.
On Thursday, Dr. James King, a child and adult psychiatrist, provided crucial testimony as part of the defence, shedding light on Jno-Baptiste’s complex mental health history and her state of mind at the time of the murder.
Jno-Baptiste, who admitted to killing 66-year-old Wendy Jane Finch in her Piccadilly home on October 4, 2021, while hallucinating, had previously been found guilty of the brutal killing. Finch was discovered lying in a pool of blood with severe head trauma and a pair of pliers lodged in her ear.
Dr. King’s psychiatric evaluation of the accused revealed a troubled past, marked by childhood bullying, undiagnosed conditions like Dyslexia and ADHD, and a history of substance abuse. He testified that Jno-Baptiste had been smoking seven to eight cannabis joints a day by age 18, contributing to her psychological decline. The psychiatrist further described disturbing behaviour, including alleged incidents where she consumed a dead dog and attempted suicide.
On the day of the murder, Dr. King confirmed that Jno-Baptiste was experiencing cannabis-induced psychosis. During her mental evaluation, she claimed to have heard a voice instructing her to “kill Finch and join Ras Freeman,” a local cannabis establishment where she had worked.
The psychiatrist emphasized that high-THC cannabis can trigger a severe form of psychosis, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and a distorted perception of reality, which he argued rendered Jno-Baptiste incapable of understanding her actions at the time of the crime.
The trial, being heard by Justice Tundre Bakre, is set to continue on Monday, with Jno-Baptiste’s defence attorney, Wendel Alexander, relying on this psychiatric evidence to support the claim of diminished responsibility.
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So tragic all around
wow! Praying for her healing and recovery
We all have trauma and don’t run around murdering grandma’s. “i hear voices”
my ass, nice excuse to kill… keep her locked up all her live!
When someone is hallucinating what ever personality u got when u normal is what you do or hear, if u r a violent person u hear voices telling u to do such, if u r a calm person you do calm stuff, so don’t let such fool u, any person saying they crazy can never be crazy, or the love say I got my certificate an I belong to the government that wicked ppl
Life time as a patient in the mental institution will be my sentence.
There are many people with mental issues in Antigua who need help. It is a serious matter that must be addressed immediately.
She needed help. It is very sad that she didn’t receive the help she needed on time. What a sad story. Lord have mercy.
It’s troubling that the defence is using cannabis-induced psychosis as an excuse for such a brutal crime, While mental health issues should be acknowledged, it’s difficult to believe that it fully absolves the defendant of responsibility for her actions smh
The defendant’s troubled history doesn’t justify the horrific murder she committed.
The defense isn’t using cannabis induced psychosis as an excuse for the crime. The young lady is charged for murder. The defense is dating that because she smoked the drug, and her previous mental problems, at the time of the death of Ms. Finches she was not of sound mind.
Therefore instead of convicting her off murder, convict for manslaughter. That’s what’s happening in this trial