No bail for accused serial carjacker

Mike Tyson, the accused in three separate carjackings over the past three months, was yesterday remanded to prison by a city magistrate.

Tyson, 24, was charged with three counts of armed robbery and pleaded not guilty to each.

It was alleged that on July 1st, at d’Urban Backlands, while being armed with a gun, Tyson robbed Esan Grimes of a car, valued $3,200,000, a cell phone valued $20,000, personal documents valued $6,000 and $34,000.

Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson

It was also alleged that on July 3rd, at McDoom, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Haniff Veersammy of a Toyota Primo, valued $3,800,000, a phone card valued $200,000, a wallet valued $1,500, two speakers valued $200,000 and $10,000. Additionally, on August 10th, at Mc Doom, Tyson allegedly stole a Toyota Spacio, valued $2,000,000, a cellphone valued $4,500 and $10,000, which were all the property of Lawrence Singh.

It was related to the court that two of the stolen cars were recovered by police.

Police last week reported that they managed to capture Tyson after he hijacked Singh’s taxi and then crashed into a parked vehicle while trying to escape from lawmen. Tyson appeared at court yesterday with his left hand in a cast.

Singh had told Stabroek News that a man hired him at his Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara base to go to the East Bank of Demerara.

Singh noted that while he was on the East Bank highway, the man told him that he wanted to stop at the Shell Gas Station at McDoom and he agreed. At McDoom, he said the man pulled out a gun, while another subsequently jumped into the vehicle armed with a gun. The two men demanded that he drive into a corner and he complied.

After a failed attempt to flee, Singh said he pleaded for his life for about five minutes until persons living in the area heard the commotion and started to shout at the men, which forced one of them to escape through the bushes and the other one to escape with the car. After the man escaped with the car, Singh said he ran through a shortcut, caught a taxi, and told the driver to follow his car. He said the police were alerted and joined the chase that stretched until Sheriff Street. He said that the robber eventually crashed into a parked vehicle and was arrested by the police.

Tyson’s attorney, Gordon Gilhuys, said the youth was married and a father of two with no previous convictions.

Tyson was nevertheless remanded to prison until September 7th, which was the date given for the taking of statements.