No bail for stick-up accused

Darian Rose, accused of robbing a woman at gun-point in her yard, was remanded to prison on Wednesday on an armed robbery charge.

Police alleged that Rose, 21, a married father of two of Lot 468 Kiskadee Drive, South Ruimveldt, walked into Barbara Mathias’ yard last Saturday, placed a handgun to her chest and ordered her to remain silent and take off her $60,000 gold chain.

Mathias told Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, that she returned home from the market and was standing in her yard when Rose walked into the yard, approached her, placed a gun to her chest and told her not to say a word. He then took off her chain and calmly walked out the yard, she said.

“I thought he was coming to see my niece, who has a block business, and lives in the same yard. I have not been able to sleep properly since this incident, Your Worship. I also suffer from high blood pressure,” a visibly traumatised Mathias added.

Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat represented Rose, who is a labourer in the interior, and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and requested reasonable bail. Police prosecutor S

aril Graham objected, citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that the accused evaded police for a few days before being caught. She deemed him a flight risk.

Magistrate Alex Moore, after hearing this, denied bail, indicating that the accused works in the interior and could easily evade justice once bail is granted. Magistrate Moore remanded Rose to prison until September 13, when the matter comes up again.