A 24-year-old man accused of stealing his mother’s teddy bear was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $20,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The allegation against Eric Velloza is that on August 15 at Lamaha Street, Georgetown, he stole one teddy bear valued $5,000, property of Bonita Etwaroo.
The unemployed resident of 201 Lamaha Street, Newtown, Kitty denied the simple larceny charge when it was read to him by the magistrate.
Police Corporal Venetta Pindar objected to the unrepresented Velloza being granted his pre-trial liberty, citing that the parties who are mother and son live in the same house and there is a likelihood he may want to interfere with the witness.
The prosecution advanced too that since the defendant is an alcoholic, there is a likelihood he may want to commit other offences.
Pindar then said that if the court was minded to grant bail, then the defendant must find an alternative address.
The complainant before being stopped by the magistrate who told her to leave details of the case for the trial said that her son had stolen the teddy bear to “give to a girl.” No further details of what transpired on the day in question were presented to the court.
Velloza’s mother, however, said that she doesn’t want her son to be “put out” and he can still reside at the said premises as she lives in the upper flat of the building and her son occupies the bottom.
The magistrate subsequently admitted Velloza to bail in the sum of $20,000. His matter was transferred to Court One for October 25.
