Philip Pynn among court parade of suspects over HMP riot

Philip Pynn, who is already awaiting trial in a high-profile murder case, was among a group of inmates who were brought into a St. John's court Wednesday over a riot that broke out at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in February.

Pynn was one of 14 men escorted into provincial court — so many that guards brought them in two at a time — for incidents that included a Feb. 9 riot at the prison chapel and for a later incident in February.

One thing they all shared in common was the same address: 83 Forest Rd., which is better known as HMP.

Pynn is charged with rioting and with assault causing bodily harm against Kenny Green, who is also awaiting trial in an unrelated murder investigation.

Pynn is charged with second-degree murder in the July 2011 shooting death of his friend Nick Winsor, in a case that police have called a botched robbery attempt on Portugal Cove Road in St. John's.

Green has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the March 2013 beating death of Joey Whalen at a suspected drug house on Tessier Place, in downtown St. John's.

In total, nine inmates have been charged with assault causing bodily harm as well as rioting in connection with the brawl on Feb. 9 in the penitentiary's chapel.

One man, Justin Harvey, is accused of assault with a weapon — with the weapon being part of a church pew.

Some of the inmates appear to have sided with Green during the fight.

Most of the accused are set to next appear in court on May 7.