– court hears
Accused of an armed robbery in which he allegedly shot at the victim of the attack, a young man was yesterday refused bail after a court heard that he was held at the scene of the crime after the gunfire alerted police.
Nigel Norville, 18, of 168 Duncan Street, Campbellville, faced four charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. He pleaded not guilty to charges of armed robbery, possession of a firearm without being the holder of a licence, possession of ammunition without being the holder of a licence and discharging a loaded firearm with intent to maim or disfigure.
According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, Norville, being armed with a gun and ammunition without a firearm licence, attacked Marcelle Fitzaben in Festival City.
At the time, Fitzaben was wearing a gold chain worth $150,000. During Norville’s attempt to relieve Fitzaben of his chain, the two engaged in a scuffle and during the altercation three rounds were discharged from Norville’s gun, the prosecutor said. Fitzaben was, however, not injured.
Grant said the shots alerted the police in the area and they arrived at the scene and arrested Norville. Even though the chain was not recovered, the gun in question was found on Norville’s person, he added.
Norville’s attorney Adrian Thompson, in seeking bail for his client, claimed that the young man had been subjected to police brutality and that the police has a medical which can attest to his.
Thompson also rejected Grant’s statements, claiming that nothing was found on Norville’s person and he argued that if Norville was in fact arrested at the scene of the crime, then he should have been in possession of the stolen article. He also stated that should bail be considered, Norville would lodge his passport with the police and report regularly. The attorney also said Norville had no pending matters or previous convictions.
However, Grant objected to bail on the grounds that the firearm was found on Norville’s person and the prevalence of the offence. He did, however, relate to the court that the alleged police brutality would be investigated.
As a result of the prosecutor’s objections, Norville was refused bail and remanded to prison until Mar 23rd, when statements are to be filed.
