Dog-food vendor Shaka Nunes was yesterday sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence after he was found guilty of snatching a woman’s gold chain.
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who presided over Nunes’ trial, handed down the sentence yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
She told Nunes, 29, of 32 Lyng Street, Charlestown, that the court had found him guilty of the offence and that he would be sentenced to 12 months in prison.
The charge against Nunes stated that on June 1, at Georgetown, he stole a gold chain valued $135,000 from the person of Avril Garrett.
Prosecutor Vernette Pindar, who presented the prosecution’s case at the arraignment, said that Nunes approached Garrett, who is a licensed “fronto” seller (“Fronto” is a special wrapping paper in which marijuana is commonly placed to be smoked) to purchase one of the papers but snatched her chain from around her neck and ran off.
Pindar added that Garrett raised an alarm and public-spirited citizens pursued Nunes, whom they subsequently apprehended. He was then handed over to the police.
At the arraignment, Garrett had indicated to the court that she was compensated for her loss to the tune of $160,000 and no longer wanted to give evidence in the matter. But Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry noted, however, that even though the complainant testified that she was compensated and no longer wanted to proceed with the matter, the court could nonetheless compel her to give evidence.
And when asked if she wanted to so proceed with the matter, the prosecutor responded in the affirmative.
Nunes had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison. The matter was subsequently sent to trial.
Statements in the matter were served on June 14, the trial commenced on July 10 and continued until yesterday. Three witnesses were called to the stand in the case.
