Five St Kitts men charged in connection with robbing cruise ship passengers on the road to Brimstone Hill in November 2010 pleaded guilty when they re-appeared in Court on Wednesday in a case that shocked the Caribbean island and roiled its tourist industry.
A release today from the Office of the St Kitts Prime Minister said that “The guilty pleas, which saved the court’s time, have been welcomed by law enforcement officials who remain firm in their relentless attack on crime and the mission to protect all residents and visitors to St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Elroy Williams, Junior Sobratie, Curtis Long, George Welsh of Sandy Point and Delvin Francis of St. Paul’s, were indicted on four counts of Robbery, one count of Assault with intent to Rob, one count of Accessory before the fact and one count of Conspiracy to Rob.
“During arraignment at the start of the present Assizes, they all pleaded not guilty, but when the matter came up for trial before His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas on Wednesday they all changed their plea to guilty on one count each.
“Police and court sources reveal that Williams, Sobratie and Long each pleaded guilty to one count of Robbery.
“George Welsh and Delvin Francis each pleaded guilty to Accessory before the fact.
“Sentencing is set for a later date as the Court has ordered a social report on all of the accused.
“The men stopped a tour bus with 17 tourists and robbed them of cell phones, jewelry, money and other personal belongings on November 14th.
“The incident resulted in the short suspension of some cruise ships to St. Kitts and shock to the industry as it highlighted its importance to the livelihood of stakeholders and the people in particular and the economy in general.”