Face-kicking, kettle-swinging attack at HMP caught on video

Graphic video of a violent attack inside Her Majesty's Penitentiary was shown to a St. John's courtroom Monday during an inmate's sentencing.

Germaine Roberts was an inmate at HMP in St. John's back in January 2015 when the attacks occurred. He said what he did to other inmates scared him, and he doesn't want to hurt anyone else.

Video surveillance shows Roberts unexpectedly kicking inmate Kenneth Coleson in the head, knocking him unconscious. 

Coleson suffered a large gash to the head after the kick caused him to strike a concrete wall. The injury required six staples.

Coleson declined to give a statement to police, but provided a victim impact statement to be read in court.

Hits another inmate with kettle

"I was generous to him. Now, I'm afraid to turn my back on others associated with him," Coleson's statement read.

Crown prosecutor Sheldon Steeves read the statement Monday afternoon in provincial court.

Coleson said other inmates laughed at him following the attack, saying he deserved it and that he was a rat. 

Just after the attack, Roberts is seen in the video returning to his cell. Other inmates appear to confront him about what happened.

One of the inmates trip, and Roberts starts hitting the man with a kettle full of boiling water. No report of injuries was made. 

30 months in prison

Later in the year, in separate incidents, Roberts went on to assault other inmates.

He told the court he has mental health problems, and that he felt tormented by guards, inmates — even voices on television and radio.

Roberts, who has a 21-page criminal record, said that made him hostile.

Before kicking Coleson, Roberts said he had been hearing voices and asked to be taken off of the range, a section of the penitentiary where he was housed.

Roberts said he doesn't want to keep hurting others, or get hurt himself. He said he is now taking medication but wants to receive a federal sentence.

Judge James Walsh noted that Roberts didn't have much in the way of violence on his lengthy criminal record.    

He sentenced Roberts to 30 months, taking into account time served.

Part of Roberts' sentence was for a break and enter at the Rob Roy Pub in St. John's back in 2013.

In that case, almost $11,000 was taken and never recovered. ATMs were also damaged in the incident.