Two teenagers who allegedly robbed two men of jewellery and a cellular phone together valued almost $200,000 were placed on $100,000 bail each when they appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Nigel Thompson, 18, of 337 East Ruimveldt and Christopher Smith, 19, of 27 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty each pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery under arms.
It is alleged that on September 28 the duo while being armed with an ice-pick robbed M. Mangar and R. Kanya of one gold chain worth $75,000 and one cellular phone worth $30,000 and one band worth $85,000, respectively.
According to Smith he had just left his `child mother’s’ house and was riding on his bicycle along Sheriff Street when he saw Thompson there. “I ask he wah he doing there and tell he not to bother catching bus that I gonna get he a taxi to go home,” Smith said.
Smith went on to tell the court that when he was looking for money to give Thompson for the taxi he discovered his pockets empty. We got on the bicycle, Smith continued, and rode a little way back to look for the money. However, the teen said that their search was unsuccessful and Thompson asked to spend the night at his house.
“We de riding along to my house when the police patrol pick we up,” Smith said. “…they find de cell phone on he so he can explain to you how he get it,” the young man stated while gesturing towards Thompson.
Thompson told the court that he’d just stepped out of a Sheriff Street nightclub with his girlfriend when the young woman saw the phone on the ground next to the wheel of a parked car. He explained that he picked the phone up and stated that if he’d stolen the phone he would’ve immediately removed the chip.
“Why did you pick it up?” the magistrate asked Thompson. The teen lowered his head and muttered “nothing.”
According to the prosecution the two accused were at the Sheriff Street nightclub when the virtual complainants exited the building. The duo, the prosecution said, attacked the men with the ice-pick and relieved them of the items stated in the charge. The matter was reported to a passing police patrol and based on the description given by the virtual complainants the young men were picked up and the phone found on the person of Thompson.
“I am not a robber man…I just find myself in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Smith told the court.
The magistrate placed the teens on $50,000 bail for each of the charges. They are to return to court on October 14.
