A young woman was placed on $25,000 bail yesterday by Magistrate Hazel Octive Hamilton after the magistrate upbraided the police for not carrying out thorough investigations prior to their arraignment of the 18-year-old on two charges of robbery under arms.
Marcelle Hetburger was read two indictable charges of committing gunpoint robbery against two women on the same day. It is alleged that on June 18 being armed with a gun, she robbed Angela Bowman of $10,000 and a cell-phone valued $40,000; the total value being $50,000, the property of Bowman.
Further on the same day, it is alleged that she robbed Salomie Ramotar of $3.3 million and two cell phones valued $75,000, the total value being $3,375,000.
Hetburger was represented by attorney Winston Murray who told the court that his client was friendly with a young man who gave her a cell phone. He said the police then turned up and arrested her. She was then placed in the lock-ups where she was held for five days before being taken to court yesterday.
Magistrate Hamilton was infuriated by the apparent failure of the police to do their investigations diligently.
According to the magistrate the case against Hetburger was outrageous since according to one of the virtual complainant’s statement she was robbed by two gunmen, while the charges were instituted against a young woman.
The complainant in the matter gave evidence that she was robbed by two men and even gave a description of the men to the police.
Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels did not object to bail and asked for time to seek the advice of the DPP in the matter.
Hetburger was then granted bail on both charges and the matter adjourned to July 27 for report.
