Alleged teen armed robber refused bail

A young man, said to be a repeat offender, was yesterday refused bail and remanded to prison, after he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell to answer a robbery-under-arms charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that Alex Mendonca, 17, on January 2, at Croal Street, Georgetown, being armed with a pair of scissors, robbed Veron Smith of a gold chain valued at $100,000 and a yellow and silver metal chain valued at $5,000.

The young man pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Attorney-at-law Clive Forde, who represented the teen, asked that bail be set at a reasonable sum, since his client was not a flight risk and had a permanent address at 66 D’Urban Street, Lodge.

He added that Mendonca is a youth who had just completed the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and lives in a single-parent family with his mother. He further stated that his client has no pending or previous offences.

Counsel’s application for bail was however challenged by Police Prosecutor Alexis David-Hosannah.

She objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant had committed similar offences in which he repaid the victims. David-Hosannah stressed also that he should be taught a lesson.

She further went on to say that the articles mentioned in the charge were recovered in his possession.

Bail was refused and Mendonca was ordered to return to court on January 21.