A man accused of robbing a woman at gunpoint was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry-Sewnarine at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The allegation is that on August 28 at Georgetown, being armed with a gun, Leon Barlow robbed Keri Corbin of a pair of sandals, a digital camera, a cell phone, one shoulder bag and a quantity of cash, all to the value of $62,500.
The defendant pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Stephen Telford in his address to the court said that on the day in question, the complainant was walking along Norton Street when she was accosted by the defendant who relieved her of the articles stated in the charge. According to Telford, an investigation was launched into the matter and the accused was subsequently arrested.
The accused in his response said that he had nothing to do with the robbery. Barlow said further that the police were making all attempts to frame him by distorting the statements given by the virtual complainant in a bid to implicate him for something he had never done.
According to the defendant, he was placed on an identification parade where the police present instructed the complainant to identify him as her assailant. He said too that he was initially picked up and arrested by the lawmen for a robbery he is accused of committing on Camp Street and not Norton Street.
Barlow, who stood visibly surprised in the docks, pondered the reason for being treated in an unjust manner by the police.
“How de police could keep changing up deh story suh meh worship?” the defendant asked the court.
“I never had no gun and I never rob nobody, is the police tell the girl fuh change up she story and she statement,” a visibly angry Barlow exclaimed. The prosecutor who objected to the defendant being granted bail told the court that Barlow is at present before another court where he has a pending matter. The prosecutor added also that the accused is at the centre of a sexual assault matter.
The virtual complainant was not present at court.
The unrepresented Barlow who was unable to secure bail for himself was later remanded to prison. His matter was transferred to Court Five for October 19.
