A labourer accused of beating a woman as he robbed her was granted bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Travis Allen, 23, of Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty and pleaded not guilty to the robbery with violence charge. It is alleged that on August 18th at Forshaw Street, Georgetown, he robbed Naresha Parks of a bag containing $43,000 in cash, a car key, and an iPhone valued $170,000, during which time he used violence towards the victim.
Attorney Clive Ford entered an appearance for Allen and told the court that his client is a labourer at Bourda Market. He said that Allen has never had any issues with the law and would show up to court on every occasion if he was granted bail.
Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell, in giving the facts on the matter, said that Parks was at a Popcaan show on the night the crime was committed. The woman was leaving when she noticed Allen in the crowd and he tried to hold onto her bag but she raised an alarm and Allen fled, the prosecutor said.
She further told the court that Parks went to the Rio nightclub after the Popcaan show and once again noticed Allen in the crowd. This time, he approached her holding a Hennessy bottle. He held onto Parks and used the Hennessy bottle to lash her several times, Brummell said. Allen grabbed Parks’ bag after she sustained the injuries and was unable to raise another alarm, the prosecutor said.
She added that Parks was later told of Allen’s whereabouts and reported the matter to the police. Using the information she received, Parks was able to indicate to the police where Allen was. He was later arrested at Leopold Street, the prosecutor said.
Allen’s attorney raised questions about his client being pinpointed by Parks twice at two separate locations. He said that it was odd that Allen would follow Parks from the show to the nightclub.
After Ford raised this issue, the magistrate reevaluated the bail application for Allen and granted bail in the sum of $150,000, with the condition that he lodges his passport at the court.
