Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Tuesday placed William Pickett on $35,000 bail, after he pleaded not guilty to stealing a quantity of scrap iron.
It is alleged that Pickett, on March 13 at Georgetown, stole a quantity of scrap metal, valued $30,000, from Patrick Fraser.
Pickett denied the charge of simple larceny after being charged at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. When given a chance to speak, he said that he had been framed. According to him, he was heading to his sister’s house when two men stopped him and started beating him while accusing him of stealing scrap iron.
But police Corporal Venetta Pindar, who presented the prosecution’s case, noted that Fraser caught Pickett red-handed. He said Fraser was at home when he received information that three men were at his place of business removing the iron and loading it unto a horse cart.
Fraser left his home and when he arrived at his workplace, he reportedly noticed Pickett and two other men removing the metal. The corporal said that the complainant was able to apprehend Pickett but his two accomplices managed to escape.
The police were subsequently summoned to the scene, where the accused was arrested and charged.
Pickett is to return to court on April 1.
