A 23-year-old carpenter was on Thursday refused bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Howard Johnson

It is alleged that on May 18 at Georgetown, Howard Johnson of 142 Cooper Street, Albouystown, being armed with a gun, robbed Carla Bennett of $23,000 in jewellery, property of the said Carla Bennett.

Johnson was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by the Acting Chief Magistrate.

Attorney-at-law Patrice Henry, who represented Johnson, told the court that his client had an iron-clad alibi for the day in question since he was at home with his parents at the time of the alleged incident. The lawyer then made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum on the grounds that his client had had no previous brushes with the law, poses no risk of flight and has fully cooperated with the police in their investigations.

The virtual complainant (VC) told the court that on the day in question the defendant broke into her house and held her at gun point demanding her jewellery. After refusing to give him the jewellery, the VC said that he began threatening to shoot and kill her. It was at this point, she said, that he pulled the jewellery off of her and made good his escape.

The VC added that she then made a police report and the defendant was subsequently charged and arrested for the offence.

Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith objected to the bail application and added that the defendant is also needed in connection with another matter.

Johnson was subsequently refused bail and his matter was transferred to court five for today.