Housewife, teen boys freed of carjacking, robbery charges

Magistrate Fabayo Azore yesterday dismissed the final charge related to the matter involving a housewife and four teenage boys who were allegedly involved in a carjacking and two robberies.

Rosanne Gittens, Mario Rodrigues, Ronaldo McKenzie, Daniel Boutrin and Christopher Nicholson, all of whom reside at Tucville and Guyhoc Park, appeared before Magistrate Azore for her ruling on the final robbery charge against them. The charge alleged that on August 26, the accused robbed Hazelyn Edwards of a car belonging to Genevieve Williamson, a cellphone and two licences, all having a total value of $809,000.

Before the charge was dismissed by Magistrate Azore, Gittens’ attorney addressed the court on why she believed the caution statement that was given by her client should not be permitted in the case. She stated that the circumstances surrounding how the statement was given by Gittens should render it impermissible by the court.

Magistrate Azore responded that the court can, on occasion, exclude a statement on the grounds that it was unfair. She further added that the caution statement was not brought up in the prosecution’s case and that it will be excluded from the trial. She then expressed her dissatisfaction with the identification of the accused, adding that identification played a key role in all the matters against the defendants. A no-case submission was upheld and the case against the accused was dismissed.

The two other matters against the defendants were also dismissed. The first being the allegation that on August 25, at Main Street, the five accused unlawfully and maliciously damaged a car belonging to Troy Aaron. The vehicle is said to be valued at $1,000,000. The first robbery charge dismissed stated that on August 25, at Main Street, the accused robbed Dwayne Peters of his car, a cellphone, and cash, all carrying a total value of $1,038,000.