A taxi driver was yesterday arraigned on multiple charges stemming from Monday’s Bent Street robbery, in which he allegedly abducted a teen girl with whom he had shared a long-term relationship.
Sherwin Trotman was remanded to prison after he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on charges of armed robbery, abduction, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and unlawful wounding.
Trotman, of Lot 45 Section C South, Turkeyen pleaded not guilty to the wounding charge, while he was not required to plead to the other offences, which are indictable.
The court heard that Trotman abducted an 18-year-old.
It also heard that the accused, while being in possession of an unlicensed .38 revolver with five matching rounds of ammunition, robbed Margaret Griffith of three gold bands that were valued $70,000. Additionally, he was accused of assaulting Edward Griffith.
The teen, Edward Griffith and Margaret Griffith, were attacked by a masked man at their Lot 1 Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust
home, the prosecution told the court. The Griffiths were here on vacation from Trinidad.
The prosecution said that the armed man held the trio at gunpoint and robbed them, after which he taped girl’s hands and took her away in a vehicle. He later sent her home.
A report was made to police and a search was carried out in Trotman’s home, where the gun and ammunition were allegedly found. Further investigations were subsequently carried out and the charges were levelled against Trotman.
The prosecution noted that Trotman and the girl knew each other for five years and that the two parties had been separated for about a week due to his abusive behaviour.
The unrepresented Trotman told the court that he had no knowledge of the charges. “Your Worship, all these things are just allegations”, he said.
The prosecution objected to Trotman being placed on bail, since he has a pending matter before the court.
The magistrate later remanded the man and transferred the matter to Court Two, where Magistrate Sueanna Lovell remanded him to prison until January 20.
