A young man accused of robbing a woman of her jewellery at gun-point was on Wednesday refused bail after Magistrate Fabayo Azore was told that he was positively identified by the victim in a police line-up.
It is alleged that being armed with a gun and in company of others, Joshua Meredith, 19, of Lot 484 East Ruimveldt, robbed Ellison Nedd of a quantity of gold jewellery, valued $135,000.
Meredith pleaded not guilty when the armed robbery charge was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Inspector Burgette Grant, who prosecuted the case for police, said that on July 3, at Georgetown, Nedd was standing on the corner of Holmes and Water streets at 12:50hrs when she was approached by three identifiable males who robbed her of her jewellery.
Grant said that the men then made good their escape. She added that on July 7, the accused was positively identified at an identification (ID) parade by Nedd as the one who was carrying the gun in the company of his two co-conspirators.
Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, who represented the accused, argued that the ID parade on which his client was placed “was tainted.” He contended that Meredith was innocent of the charges levelled against him and that he was never found with any article which does not belong to him.
In seeking bail, Fung-A-Fat said that his client had no antecedents, posed no risk of flight, had a fixed address and had been cooperating with police investigations.
But Grant objected to his bail application, citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. She begged the court also to take into consideration the type of weapon alleged to have been used.
She also argued that if granted his pre-trial liberty, there is a likelihood Meredith would not return to court to stand trial.
After hearing the submissions, the magistrate informed Meredith that he will be remanded to prison. His matter will be called again on July 24.
