A 25-year-old Hamilton Parish man who told Police "vexatious spirits'' induced him to trespass onto the St. George's Club and threaten to kill guests at the Margaret Rose Restaurant, pleaded guilty in Magistrate's Court to charges of trespassing, using threatening behaviour, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis was told that on October 27, 1996, Police were summoned to the East End condo complex where they discovered Derrick Gibbons pacing incoherently in the club's kitchen.

As he was led through the club to a waiting Police vehicle Gibbons yelled out to diners "I'll come back and kill you f***ers,'' prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told the Court. A body search subsequently turned up a double-bladed "karate-style'' knife concealed on his person.

When asked to explain his actions, Gibbons told Police "vexatious spirits'' induced him to trespass through the club.

More benevolent spirits, however, came to his rescue in the courtroom, when Cleveland Simmons of The Woodshop and Sen. Neletha Butterfield rose to defend Gibbons, telling Mr. Francis the youth had been undergoing a lot of changes since the death of his father and was having a difficult time learning how to live on his own.

They impressed upon the Court how, in the last few months, Gibbons had been working at The Woodshop and was committed to continuing his education. Both vouched for Gibbons' character of late and requested the Court order a social inquiry report before passing judgment.

Sgt. Taylor agreed and Mr. Francis released Gibbons on bail, but ordered him to return on April 4 for sentencing.