Odel Nelson and Wayne Gilbert, the two men who were caught by a public-spirited citizen after they allegedly used a toy gun to commit a robbery, were yesterday jailed for armed robbery.
Nelson, 27, of Lot 266 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme and Gilbert, 20, of Lot 13 West La Penitence, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge and were tried at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
By the end of the trial, Nelson, who was unrepresented by counsel, changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to four years in jail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, while Gilbert, who maintained his innocence, was found guilty and sentenced to five years in jail.
According to the charge against the men, on December 19, 2012 at around 3:30pm, O’ Neil Fraser, 30, of North Ruimveldt, was in a Chinese restaurant in the vicinity of Quamina and Thomas streets, when Nelson held him at gunpoint, while Gilbert was outside on a bike to be used for the getaway. Nelson relieved Fraser of his BlackBerry phone valued at $40,000 and $100,000 cash. However, a private citizen, who is a licensed firearm holder, was in the area at the time and went to Fraser’s assistance and arrested them.
Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman presented the case against the men for the police.
