Two men accused of robbing a man of his gold chain and a woman of her gold band appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The first charge against Marlon Bobb and Deryck Norton alleges that on July 30 at Georgetown, they robbed Brenton Charles of a gold chain valued $65,000.
The second charge against the men stated that on July 29 at Georgetown, they stole from the person of Carleen Skekel one gold band valued $60,000.
The jointly-charged duo was not required to plead to the indictable charges of robbery with aggravation and larceny from the person respectively when they were read to them.
Attorney George Thomas who represented Bobb, a 21-year-old bond clerk of 707 East Ruimveldt, made an application for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail on the grounds that he has no antecedents, poses no risk of flight and has been cooperating with the police.
Thomas cited too that the prosecution’s case against his client is poor and argued that no proper police investigations into the matters were conducted. The lawyer said that his client was not identified by the virtual complainants in either of the matters, and the police never placed him on an identification (ID) parade.
Thomas said that Bobb will return to court to stand trial whenever he is required to as he is anxious to clear his name of the charges.
Meanwhile, Norton, of 1 Smyth and D’urban Streets, Werk-en-Rust was unrepresented by counsel but also requested bail.
The 27-year-old man said he is innocent of the charges. “I went in custody for five days fuh something me aint even know nothing bout,” Norton added.
In his bail application, the vendor said that he has to provide financial support for his son. The prosecution objected to the defendants’ bail applications, citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offences.
In its objection regarding the first charge, the prosecution stated that the complainant Charles had identified the defendants to lawmen moments after the robbery.
In the other matter Police Corporal Simone Payne noted the serious and prevalent nature of the offence.
After listening to the applications on both sides, the court granted the men bail in the sum of $120,000 each on the larceny from the person charge but remanded them on the robbery with aggravation matter. Both matters were transferred to Court One for September 17.
