Teens charged with violent robbery

A 16-year-old was among four teens charged yesterday with battering a man during a robbery.

It is the police’s case that on March 28, 2014, Stephon Phillips was robbed as he left the Food Palace restaurant on King Street.

Akeem Stanley, Curtlan Stanley, Godfrey Lynch and the minor were the persons accused of robbing Phillips. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges of robbery with violence, which was read by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and they were granted $150, 000 bail each.

Prosecutor Michael Grant related to the court that the crime occurred at around 10:15 pm as Phillips was leaving the Food Palace restaurant. It was at this point that the four defendants allegedly accosted him, battering him about his body before relieving him of several articles.

The items stolen included a gold chain, valued at $220, 000 and a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone, valued at $150, 000. After stealing the articles, Phillips’ attackers fled the scene and the robbery was reported to the police.

The foursome were subsequently located and positively identified as the culprits, according to the police.

Stanley, of 867 Aubrey Barker Street was represented by lawyer Paul Fung-a-Fat, who pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client. Curtlan Stanley, 18, of 120 Section A Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was represented by Bernard Da Silva. It was not stated if the Stanleys were related.

Lynch, 18, of 16 Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara was also represented by an attorney while the minor was not. The foursome is to reappear in court on April 30th, 2014, when the case will be called for statements.