A man was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton when he appeared to answer two indictable charges of robbery under arms and two summary charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Jason Burnette, also called Jason Gonzales, of D’urban Street was not required to plead to the charge of robbing Tonette Henry at gunpoint of one gold chain valued $60,000, five gold rings valued $180,000, one pair of gold jingles valued $200,000, a total value of $440,000. He also allegedly robbed her of one laptop valued $180,000, property of Carib Diamond Drilling Company.

According to the other indictable charge read to Burnette, on December 30, 2009 while he was reportedly armed with a knife he robbed Andrew Davis of one cell phone, a silver ring and $860, a total value of $31,860.

Meanwhile, Burnette pleaded not guilty to having in his possession one snub-nose revolver on January 18 in Georgetown without being the owner of a firearm licence.

He also pleaded not guilty to having in his possession on the same day and place five live rounds of .38 special ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Attorney-at-law Glen Hanoman, representing Burnette, told the court that his client was uncomfortable with the magistrate trying his case since she had threatened to sue him (Hanoman).  He then applied to have the magistrate recuse herself from the case but she  denied Hanoman’s application.

Earlier, while the magistrate was dealing with another matter, Hanoman had told her that she personally remands persons to jail when she denies them bail and in response she told him she would sue him.

Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Joel Ricknauth asked that the defendant be remanded on all charges and asked for a date for trial on the firearm and ammunition possession charges.

Hannoman then made another application requesting time so that he can take up his denied application in the High Court, telling the magistrate that he took her statement seriously.

When the magistrate remanded Burnette and set his trial for the possession charges on  April 22, she told Hanoman that he had enough time to do that.

Regarding the indictable charges, Burnette is to return to court on February 15.