A 17-year-old boy, who allegedly broke into a woman’s home and stole a quantity of jewellery among other items, was remanded to prison yesterday.
Jamal Hinds 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 Magistrates’ Court. According to the police, on September 22, Hinds, of Ithaca Village, West Coast Berbice broke and entered the dwelling house of Esther Griffith and stole a digital camera, a gold chain, four gold rings and two pairs of gold earrings, totalling $204,000 in value.
Hinds’ lawyer, Vic Puran, stated that his client was just out of school and was currently unemployed. He said that his client came to Georgetown to spend some time with his relatives.
The lawyer stated that the offence was committed by his client’s relatives but because of he is the “country cousin” he was the one arrested.
The prosecution told the court that Hinds had been before the court prior to the incident for another offence. Hinds then informed the court that he was placed on a bond to keep the peace for two years for larceny of a ball. Puran stated that his client’s family was willing to recompense Griffith for the items. Griffith said the camera had been recovered and was lodged at the police station.
The prosecution told the court that the camera was found in Hinds’ pants pocket. The magistrate then called the teen, his mother, the prosecution and Griffith to the bench, where a long discussion ensued.
At one point the mother was heard telling the magistrate that her son was involved in the break-in and he still had some of the jewellery in his pants pockets. The teen then took out some of the jewellery from his pants pockets and placed it on the magistrate’s desk.
His mother then stated that she was willing to compensate Griffith for any other items that are still missing.
The magistrate subsequently ordered that Hinds be remanded to prison and that he appear back in court on September 28.