Duo freed of robbery charge after victim leaves country

Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday dismissed a case against two men jointly charged with robbing another man of a BlackBerry and other items, since the victim is overseas and not likely to return for some time.

The Christianburg Magistrate’s Court heard that David Booker and Wayne Parris were accused of stealing the Blackberry phone, $54,000 and other items on March 5.

Maylene Smith, the grandmother of the virtual complainant Mario Batson, 21, said he was born in Cayenne and his mother had taken him back there.

Although the case was dismissed, the court noted that Booker, had been previously convicted and she placed both him and his co-accused Parris on a 12-month bond on both men to keep the peace. The magistrate warned them that should they reappear in court on any charge within that period, they would serve a prison sentence. She then told Parris that if he is put before the court on any other charge anywhere in the country, the magistrate has the right to place him on remand until the case is tried.