Theft accused said he stumbled upon bag with stolen lamp

A 32-year-old man accused of breaking into the house of another and stealing a number of items therein was on Friday placed on $100,000 bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that between August 30 and 31 at Supply, East Bank Demerara, Vernon Bryenhaff of 19 North Road, Bourda broke and entered the dwelling of Jones Samuels and stole therein a generator, vacuum and other items valued $522,800. 
 
The mason pleaded not guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.

When given a chance to respond, the defendant told the court that he was innocent of the charge. According to Bryenhaff, he was walking along the road in the vicinity of Supply when he stumbled upon a plastic bag on the road containing a lamp. Being in good condition, the defendant said he decided to take the lamp and continued walking.

It was at this point he said that a vehicle stopped, the virtual complainant (VC) disembarked and began accusing him of breaking into his house. The accused related that he was taken by the VC to his house (Samuel’s house), showed the place and then accused of having knowledge about the break in.

The prosecutor said that only the lamp belonging to the VC was recovered in the defendant’s possession. The prosecution had no objection to the accused being granted bail.

Bryenhaff was later placed on $100,000 bail. His matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for October 29.