A 31-year-old father of two who was arraigned on three counts of robbery under arms and possession of firearm and ammunition charges was yesterday sentenced to a total of 20 years imprisonment after he changed his not guilty plea to guilty but will serve only four years.
Nigel Wellington of Lot 136 B Field Sophia asked acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine–Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to allow the sentences to run concurrently and the prosecution made no objection to the application.
According to the particulars of the charges, on September 20 at Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown, the accused who was armed with a cutlass robbed Samantha Ragnauth of items valued in excess of $1M. Also on the same day the man while being armed with the dangerous weapon robbed Ragnauth of items valued a total of $100,000 and belonging to Yogeshwar Ragbeer.
Additionally, on September 24 at Georgetown, the man had in his possession one Rossi .32 revolver with six live matching rounds when he was not the holder of a firearm licence in force at the time. Finally, on September 24 at Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, Wellington robbed Patricia Mc Pherson of items valued $179,000 in total.
According to the facts presented to the court by the prosecution, on September 24 at approximately 11:00 hrs the VC (Mc Pherson) was in her kitchen when the accused jumped her fence, entered her home and held her at gunpoint while he demanded the valuables and made good his escape. The VC subsequently raised an alarm and the police patrol which was in the area responded. As a result they observed the accused who tried to run away but while he was doing so he dropped a KFC brown paper bag. The police ranks made checks in the bag and on his person and subsequently the .32 revolver with six live matching rounds were discovered along with the items. Wellington was escorted to the police station and he was later charged with the offence.
On September 20 at around 13:15 hrs the VC (Ragnauth) was in the lower flat of her home washing her dishes when she was confronted by the defendant who ordered her to give up all of her valuables after which he tied her up with duct tape and made good his escape.
As a result a report was made at the police station and during an investigation the SIM card belonging to the VC was discovered in his possession.
The prosecution further stated that an identification parade was held and the accused was identified as the man who had committed the unlawful act.
Wellington pleaded with the magistrate to be lenient with him in sentencing. “Your worship please be lenient on me for the sake of my kids.”
The magistrate stressed, however, that these are very serious offences and both the mitigating and aggravating circumstances were taken into consideration in handing down the sentence.
As a result, the man was sentenced to four years imprisonment along with a $75,000 fine for the possession and ammunition charges and $75,000 along with four years for the charge of possession of firearm without licence. Additionally he was also sentenced to four years imprisonment on each charge of robbery under arms. (Roxanne Clarke)
