Teen granted $75,000 bail on motorbike theft charge

Oswald Headley, who was allegedly caught with a stolen motorcycle along with Sheldon Smith, was granted bail yesterday while Smith was further remanded to prison when the appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

The 17-year-olds had been arraigned on July 9, but were not allowed to plead to the allegation that on July 5, at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, they stole the motorcycle, property of Ron Fletchman.

Attorney-at-law Kimberly Yearwood, who appeared in association with attorneys Peter Hugh and Latchmi Rahamat, urged the court to be lenient and grant Headley bail, with the special reason that the stolen motorcycle was not found in his possession. She further mentioned that Headley has witnesses who can testify to where he was when the item was stolen.

 Sheldon Smith
Sheldon Smith
Oswald Headley
Oswald Headley

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Ayesha Gibbons objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the value of the motorcycle. Gibbons said the motorcycle, value in over $100,000, was removed from one of the defendant’s homes. She also said the investigations into the matter are incomplete.

Yearwood interjected and told the court that it was not the defendant’s fault that the investigation is incomplete.

Subsequently Magis-trate Sueann Lovell granted $75,000 bail for Headley and released him in the custody of his mother who was present. Meanwhile an unrepresented Smith was further remanded. Magistrate Lovell told Smith that she could not grant him bail, since no one appeared on his behalf.

It is the police’s case that on July 6, the two teens were caught with the stolen motorcycle on Dennis Street, at 23:30 hrs by police on patrol in the area.