Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton yesterday remanded a 17-year-old community high school student charged with armed robbery committed on businessman Roger Hinds earlier this year.
Natolan Martin, of WW 7 North East La Penitence, is one of two persons accused of the multi-million-dollar gunpoint robbery committed on Hinds on January 10. The Georgetown Magistrates’ Court heard that Martin allegedly stole a quantity of raw gold, two gold rings, two diamond rings, one 9mm pistol, $3M, a haversack and a cell phone all totalling $9.6M. The Lodge Community High School student was not required to plead to the charge.
His attorney Adrian Thompson told the court that police had picked up the lad from his home. He had been in bed asleep. Thompson said that if the teen had committed the crime he stands accused of he would have been in hiding, not resting at home. Further, he submitted that the defence stands ready to challenge the charge and that the police haven’t an iota of evidence against Martin.
Magistrate Octave-Hamilton questioned the defendant’s age, noting that he had previously appeared before the court and had stated that he was older.
However, Thompson maintained that his client was 17-years-old.
The court then ordered that the defendant’s birth certificate be submitted at the next hearing.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to the accused being granted bail on the grounds that he had been identified by the complainant as one of two persons who robbed him with a gun. He also said that the offence is a serious and prevalent one.
The prosecution did not present any facts about the matter.
Martin was then remanded to prison and ordered to appear in Court One on February 3 for fixtures and report.
