A twenty-two-year-old taxi driver yesterday was put on bail in the sum of $200,000 by Magistrate Judy Latchman for allegedly robbing Saisnarine Baldeo at gunpoint of jewellery and a Blackberry cell phone.
Travis Waite, who was represented by attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson, pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbery under arms and contended that he was given specific orders to drive while being held at gunpoint.
It was alleged that on February 22, 2012 being armed with a dangerous weapon, to wit a gun, he robbed Baldeo of three bangles and one Blackberry cell phone, worth a total of $200,000.
Magistrate Latchman chided the prosecution for doing what she called “adding calcium to their case”, strengthening the case as they go along. The prosecution said that the defendant implicated himself in his caution statement which was the reason for him being charged.
His attorney, however, stated that his client was actually a victim of a holdup in which four persons entered his Continental Cabs taxi and at gunpoint forced him to use his vehicle in committing a robbery.
The defendant subsequently made a report to the police station even before the police knew of the robbery, but he was charged.
His attorney in opposing the prosecution’s objection to bail argued that the nature of a crime is not sufficient reason to reject an application for bail and they needed to give more reasons.
He also noted that the only evidence being presented was the caution statement.
The magistrate after due consideration of all the arguments presented granted the defendant bail in the sum of $200,000 and ordered that he returns to court on March 21.
