A judge and her husband were brutalised and robbed early yesterday morning by a gang of armed men, who broke into their home in the secured, gated community of Felicity, East Coast Demerara, where they later engaged in a gunfight with a security guard during a botched getaway.
Although six men were allegedly involved in the robbery, police had held four men up to last evening, according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.
Following the attack, Justice Nicola Pierre, 43, and her husband, Mohamed Chand, were admitted as patients at Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital. The extent of the couple’s injuries was not clear and relatives declined to comment at the hospital.
Up to press time, Blanhum said that the police were at the hospital visiting the victims.
According to a police statement on the attack, four men broke into Justice Pierre’s home at about 1:20AM after they overpowered and tied up a special constable, who was on duty close to the house.
Police said the perpetrators held up Justice Pierre and Chand and their son and during this period the couple was assaulted. The bandits took away a portable safe with money and jewellery and a suitcase with articles.
According to police, as the perpetrators were leaving the premises, they were confronted by an armed security guard at a neighbouring residence and there was an exchange of gunfire. It was during this time that the perpetrators dropped the safe and suitcase and escaped.
The police responded to the report and investigations later led to the arrest of the four men.
Questions have been raised about how the bandits were able to gain entrance through a gate that was locked and operated by a remote control and subsequently managed to overpower the policeman on
