Gunman gets nine years after confessing to robberies

Ronlee Ramprashad, 25, who shot at some of his victims during a series of armed robberies, was yesterday sentenced to spend the next nine years in jail after confessing to the crimes.

Ramprashad, of 124 Middle Road, La Peni-tence, Georgetown, had previously denied the charges at his arraignment earlier this month before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was remanded to prison.

At yesterday’s hearing, however, before city magistrate Judy Latchman, he indicated that he wanted to change his pleas. The magistrate enquired from him whether he was certain of his decision, explaining to the unrepresented man that the offences for which he was charged carried mandatory periods of imprisonment.

The matter was stood down for some time, during which the magistrate advised him to think about what he really wanted to do.

Ramprashad, who appeared to have been in deep thought, wore a worried look on his face during this time. When the matter was subsequently recalled, he again indicated responsibility for the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges after they were re-read to him.

Ronlee Ramprashad
Ronlee Ramprashad

Ramprashad, a DVD vendor, accepted that on October 22, at Robb Street Georgetown, being armed with a gun, he robbed Savitri Harricharran of a hand bag, a quantity of cash, a Samsung cellphone and a quantity of documents, all totaling $43,000. He further accepted that he discharged a loaded firearm at Harricharran, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm, on the same day.

Additionally, he pleaded guilty to charges that on November 11, being with another and being armed with a hand gun, he attempted to rob Rakeena Ally, and that on the same day, in the company of another, he discharged a loaded firearm Insham Ally, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.

Finally, Ramprashad accepted that on November 10, at Sheriff Street, Georgetown, being armed with a gun, he robbed Leone Sooknanan of $20,000, belonging to the Wong Chan-Tong.

He did, however, deny a charge that he conspired with Seon Grant to commit an armed robbery on November 14. This matter will be called again on December 5.

According to the prosecution’s case, Harricharran was standing on Robb Street when Ramprashad walked up to her and whipped out a gun, with which he shot her to the abdomen. He then relieved the woman of her bag.

Inspector Joel Ricknauth said Harricharran had positively identified Ramprashad on an identification parade and he admitted to committing the offence.

During the robbery of the Allys, Ricknauth said that Ramprashad and his accomplice entered their King Street store and jumped on to the counter and demanded Rakeena hand over valuables. The court heard that the woman refused and it was at this point that the defendant’s accomplice, who was carrying a gun, discharged the weapon at Insham. The report of the attack led to Ramprashad arrest, while his alleged accomplice remains at large.

In the case of the robbery of Sooknanan, the court heard that Ramprashad had gone to the Future House Chinese Restaurant, located on Sheriff Street, where he works as a cashier and held him at gunpoint before carting off $20,000 belonging to Chan-Tong.

After his guilty pleas, Ramprashad threw himself at the mercy of the court and begged for mercy. “I lef everything up to you,” he said, when asked by the magistrate if he wanted to say anything.

Upon an enquiry by the court, he revealed that he has had previous brushes with the law and he was charged with simple larceny but he was quick to point out that he was never convicted. That case, he said, was dismissed.

In mitigation, the magistrate considered that he pleaded guilty and saved the court considerable time in otherwise having to conduct a trial. Listing the aggravating considerations, however, she noted the seriousness and prevalence of the offences. Additionally, she said the court considered the fact that a dangerous weapon was used in the commission of the crimes and that there is a need to send a strong message of deterrence to potential offenders. As a result, Magistrate Latchman informed Ramprashad that he would be sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 108 months.

He was sentenced to 36 months on each of the five charges. The magistrate, however, explained that the sentence for two offences committed on October 22 will run concurrently as will the sentences for the two committed on November 11. She, however, noted that he will be spending 36 months for the offence committed on November 10 and that the sentences for each respective day will run consecutive to each other.

When she exited the courtroom, the man’s teary-eyed mother appeared visibly shaken after being told that her son would be behind bars for some nine years.