Trio accused of break-in at salon while owner was on premises

A trio was yesterday granted bail when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court for allegedly breaking into the salon/boutique of a woman while she was inside it and stealing a quantity of items valued at over $500,000.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of break and enter and larceny when Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read it to them.

The charge alleges that on May 7 at Robb Street, Lacytown, Orin Agard, 39, of Station Street, Kitty, Christopher Yhip, 33, of Robb Street, Lacytown, and Prince Lamaison, 36, of North Ruimveldt, all broke and entered the salon/boutique of Myrtle Holder and stole a music set, a curling iron set and a quantity of clothing, with a total value of $535,000.

The trio’s lawyer Patrice Henry requested that they be released on their own recognisance.

He said that the allegation was a ridiculous one since the police do not have  any evidence to link his clients to the crime.

He noted that Holder had gone to the Alberttown Police Station to report the break-in and on the said day Agard had gone to the police station since he was wanted for an alleged damage-to-property matter.

He said that while at the station his client was informed that he was being charged with break and enter and larceny.

The lawyer noted that what was more telling was the fact that his two other clients, Yhip and Lamaison, went to court yesterday morning to find out what was happening to their friend Agard and they were arrested and charged  for the same break-in.

The lawyer stated that the police informed his clients that their names were mentioned in a statement on the break-in.

However, Holder, who was also present in court, stated that she was in the bottom flat of her two-storey salon/boutique when someone called her informing her that a break-in was taking place at the top flat of the building.

She said that she immediately called the police but when they got there Lamaison and Yhip had already fled leaving Agard who they apprehended.

Prosecutor Stephen Telford made no objections to the bail applications but stated that there was some confusion in the case.

He noted that one of the men was charged last week for assaulting another man.

The magistrate then placed all three of the men on $85,000 bail each and ordered that the case be transferred to Court Two for June 8.