A mother of three accused of breaking into her boss’ house and stealing a quantity of items was yesterday placed on bail in the sum of $75,000 when she appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It is alleged that on November 3 at Georgetown, Cecily Higgins broke and entered the dwelling house of Donnette Parris and stole a quantity of electrical appliances and cash, all to the value of $527,000.
The 35-year-old accused, who resides at 3075 ‘B’ Field, Sophia, pleaded not guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny when it was read to her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that on the day in question the virtual complainant left her premises secured and went out to run an errand. Upon her return she found the home broken into and a quantity of her belongings missing.
According to Harvey, the defendant is employed as a domestic by the complainant and after police investigations it was found that it was Higgins who had broken into her boss’s home. Harvey said that after the incident, the police were summoned to the scene where the accused was cautioned, arrested and later charged.
Attorney-at-law Rexford Jackson who represented the defendant made an application for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail, citing that she has no previous convictions, poses no risk of flight, has a fixed address and has been fully cooperating with the police in their investigations.
When given a chance to speak, the virtual complainant told the court that apart from her, the accused is the only other person who has a key to her house as she would enter to do cleaning.
According to Parris, on the day in question while she was out on an errand, the accused called her and notified her that someone had broken into her home.
The complainant however said that when she along with the police arrived at the premises, evidence from the police investigation proved otherwise and led to Higgins being arrested.
The prosecution had no objection to the accused being granted her pretrial liberty. Higgins was later placed on $75,000 bail and ordered to return to court on January 3.
