Othello remanded over armed robbery

A man was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer a charge of robbery under arms.

 

The charge against Othello Duncan of 117 Cane Street, Meadow Bank is that on July 25, 2013 at Meadow Bank Wharf, he robbed Haymat Martin of $360,000, while being armed with a gun.

Duncan pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, on the day in question, around 10:10 hrs, Martin was at Meadow Bank Wharf when Duncan saw him and demanded the cash he had. Martin refused to hand it over, the prosecutor said, and Duncan placed a gun to his head, pushed his hand into Martin’s pocket, removed the money and made good his escape.

Grant objected to bail based on the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence and added that Duncan had been charged previously with a similar offence.

Attorney Melville Duke questioned why his client was charged only now, when the alleged robbery occurred over one year ago. He added that his client is not a flight risk and he did not think the police had arrested the right person since it was just a random pick-up. Duke then made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum.

 

The court was told that Martin saw Duncan many times after the alleged robbery but every time he made a report, Duncan always disappeared before the police could arrive.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned for November 27.