Errol Peters of Victoria, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge of larceny from the person.
He denied that on Boxing Day at the Main Street Lime, he stole a gold chain valued $125,000 from Gopaul Seodat.
Peters stated that on the day in question he was with his family at the Main Street Lime when they were caught in a crowd but that he had two Guinness bottles in his hands when Seodat shouted that he had snatched his gold chain.
He said that Delon Evans, who was also present in court yesterday as a witness, dealt him a cuff to his face and then dragged him from the left to the right side of Main Street beating him.
He said that no chain was ever found on him but the police still took him to Brickdam Police Station bruised and bloodied and then to Diamond Police Station where they left him for two days without medical attention.
However, Seodat, who was also present in court, stated that he was caught in a crowd when Peters snatched his chain that he had gotten as a Christmas present.
He said that he raised an alarm and that Evans, who was with him at the time, then grabbed Peters but that Peters took out a knife and a scissors and fired two “juks” at Evans.
Evans then told the court that he saw Peters snatch the chain since he grabbed the hand that Peters had the chain in.
He said that Peters freed himself of his grip, dropped the chain in his pockets and then attempted to stab him. He stated that several public- spirited citizens apprehended Peters when he attempted to flee the scene.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford then objected to Peters’ bail application, when he suggested it, stating that he was there when “the police had to save his (Peters) life from a crowd of people who wanted to kill him because of the accusation”. He stated that the chain was not recovered.
Peters is expected to make another court appearance on January 27 next year.
