A Campbellville resident was on Wednesday charged with stealing a gold chain and a city court heard that he was identified by a member of the city police who witnessed the crime.
However, Josiah Bess, 23, was released on $150,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after his lawyer told the court that he had not been identified by the victim as the robber.
It is alleged that on February 27, 2016, at Regent Street, Georgetown, Bess, 23, stole a $230,000 gold chain from the person of Mark de Caires.
Bess pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Attorney Adrian Thompson, who appeared for Bess, told the court that Bess should be given bail because he was not identified by the virtual complainant as the person who stole the chain since an identification parade was not even conducted by the police.
He also said his client, who is a mason, has no previous convictions
Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail because Bess gave the wrong address to the police. Moreover, the prosecutor told the court that Bess was identified by a city police who had witnessed the incident. Bail was subsequently granted to Bess on the condition that he report to the Campbellville Police Outpost every Friday. The case was adjourned until May 3.
