Just months after his release from prison for a gun crime, Royston James found himself before a city court facing a charge that he a robbed a man of a gold band almost three years ago.
James was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One, where he was charged with stealing a gold band valued $147,000 from the person of Akeem Calendar on September 22, 2011 at Georgetown.
James denied the larceny-from-the-person charge when it was read to him.
The police’s case is that on the day in question, at 6:30pm, Calendar was walking along Croal Street when James, whom he knows, rode up on a bicycle alongside him and snatched the band before making good his escape.
Prosecutor Michael Grant related to the court that the accused was sentenced to a period of imprisonment for illegal firearm possession sometime after this alleged crime took place in 2011. He was released from prison in April of this year.
The prosecutor objected to the accused being granted bail citing the nature and gravity of the offence and its seriousness and prevalence.
After hearing the case, the Chief Magistrate informed James that he would be remanded to prison.
His matter was subsequently transferred to Court Five before Magistrate Fabayo Azore to be assigned a date for statements for the commencement of trial.
Before Magistrate Azore, James, who was unrepresented by counsel, begged the court for bail.
He said that the complainant no longer wanted to proceed with the matter. But Calendar, who was present in court, reported that he had no such discussion with the accused and indicated that he wished to offer evidence against him.
It was at this point that Calendar asked James whether he can recall attempting also to rob his cousin recently.
As a result, Magistrate Azore informed James that he would be remanded to prison and at the next hearing on August 8, the court will consider his application since the matter has engaged the attention of the courts since 2011.
