Funeral parlour musician remanded over ice pick holdup

A musician of the A and D Funeral Parlour who allegedly robbed a man of a quantity of items was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on October 1 at Georgetown, Gary Bovell of 3248 South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, being armed with an ice pick robbed Sherwin Braithwaite of items valued $307,000. 

Bovell was not required to plead to the indictable charge of robbery under arms when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.

The 29-year-old defendant was jointly charged with Sean James, who was not present in court as he has not been arrested.

Bovell told the court that he had nothing to do with the robbery, stating that it was his friend [James] who had robbed the virtual complainant (VC).

“My Worship, I just find meself in de wrong place at de wrong time. I me self lef shock after me friend rob the man,” the accused said.

When given a chance to respond, the VC, who is a taxi driver, explained to the court that the two men had hired him from Regent Street to be taken to Festival City.

Once there, Braithwaite said, the men held him up with an ice pick and demanded that he hand over his valuables. He said also that Bovell demanded his car, stating that they needed it to commit a robbery.

The VC further stated that during a scuffle with Bovell, he managed to take the ice pick away from him and apprehended him.

The police were later summoned and Bovell was arrested but James escaped.  An arrest warrant has been issued for him.

The unrepresented Bovell was subsequently remanded to prison and ordered to return to court on October 13.