An 18-year-old miner yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny when it was read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magi-strate’s Court.
The defendant was placed on bail in the sum of $60,000 and his matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for April 15.
It is alleged that between December 23, 2008 and January 18, 2009 Andrew Wilson of Friendship Canal, Lower Pomeroon, Essequibo River, broke and entered the shop belonging to Kenrick Montrose and stole items valued $49,000, property of the said Kenrick Montrose.
Attorney-at-law Leslie Sobers who represented the defendant told the court that his client never broke into or stole anything from the premises of the virtual complainant (VC). Sobers added that police ranks had questioned Wilson in connection with the incident but he was shot in his back before he could even respond. Sobers expressed outrage that the police had shot his client in his back.
According to him, “My Worship, can you imagine that the police are actually shooting people from behind now? I thought that you can’t shoot somebody backing you.”
The lawyer then made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum on the grounds that his client needed to seek medical attention and posed no risk of flight. He added also that Wilson has a fixed place of abode in Georgetown where he will remain to seek medical attention until his next court appearance on April 15 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith had no objection to bail but stated that the stolen items were recovered on the person of the defendant.
