Judge frees Cheryl Miller

File: Cheryl Miller

A court in Port of Spain ruled that Cherly Miller does not have to go back to hospital, ending the uncertainty for the woman who was forcibly taken from her workplace last month and sent to the St Ann's Psychiatric Hospital, where she spent 15 days.

Justice Peter Rajkumar delivered his ruling at the end of a habeas corpus application on behalf of Miller challenging the stay at hospital.

She told reporters at the Hall of Justice she is happy to be "free". Miller said a burden has been lifted and now she hopes she can sleep in peace. 

Miller's sister, Doreen, accompanied her to court; many of her co-workers were also there to give her support. Public Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke also attended the hearing.

The judge amended an earlier order by Justice Kokaram that ordered Miller's release into the care of her family. The new order did not specificy that Miller must be released in the care of her family. 

Dr Ian Hypolite, the hospital’s medical chief of staff as the respondent, treated Miller at hospital. The official medical report stated that the woman might be suffering from schizophrenia. However an independent report compiled by Dr Gerard Hutchinson stated Miller was not a danger to herself or to others. 

Hutchinson is a professor and head of the Psychiatric Unit of the Department of Clinical Medicine Sciences at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

Senior Counsel Russell Marineau, who appeared for Hypolite, said it wasn’t his client’s wishes to have Miller kept at the hospital. He did not contest Hutchinson's report.

Rajkumar ruled that each party would bear their own legal costs for the case.