The wanted man, who was shot at a Quamina Street house on Friday after he reportedly attacked a police rank with a knife, has been charged with robbing miner Roger Hinds of $9.6 million in gold and diamonds.
Randy Morris, 32, of 263 Freeman Street, East La Penitence yesterday appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman charged with the January 10 robbery of Hinds. Morris, who was represented by attorney Gordon Gilhuys, was remanded to prison.
The prosecution’s case is that on the day of the robbery, Morris used a gun to rob Hinds of a quantity of gold and diamond jewellery and other articles, valued at $9.6 million in total.
During the attack, Hinds was shot twice to the abdomen and was subsequently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He has since been discharged.
Gilhuys made an application for the charge to be read summarily so that his client could offer a plea, however, his motion was denied by Magistrate Latchman.
In a twist of events, the prosecution indicated to the court that Morris was not shot on Friday but was injured during a scuffle with the policemen. The prosecutor then produced a medical, saying it would verify the claim.
However, the magistrate explained that medical certificates are only valid when a virtual complainant injures a defendant or vice versa.
As a result, Gilhuys made an application for a private examination to undertaken of his client to show that he was indeed shot. He said his client would stand all expenses. The request was granted by the magistrate.
In a press release on Saturday, police said at about 11:30 pm on Friday, acting on information received, ranks went to a house at Quamina Street, Georgetown, in search of Morris, who was wanted for questioning in relation to a number of armed robberies. Morris allegedly attacked the police with a knife, police said, causing a rank to resort to the use of force. Morris was grazed to his abdomen by a single round that was discharged. Morris was later taken to the GPH for medical attention.
Gilhuys, however, claimed that his client was being made a scapegoat for a series of robberies. He added that on Friday night, Morris was arrested at his girlfriend’s home, where the police locked the woman into a room and shot him.
The case is to be called again on Friday, when Morris’ alleged 17-year-old accomplice is also to be charged.
