Alfred Benjamin, who says he was previously sentenced for having an unlicensed gun and ammunition, was yesterday remanded to prison for allegedly robbing a man of a cell phone while being armed with an ice pick.
Benjamin, 25, of Charlestown pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. It is alleged that on October 5, in front of the St. Phillips Church, Georgetown, armed with an ice pick, he attacked and robbed Kevin Joseph of an Ice Mobile Cell Phone, valued $7,500, and $1,000.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru said that Joseph was standing at the corner of D’Urban Street when he was approached by Benjamin, who attacked with an ice pick. Mangru said that Joseph attempted to escape but Benjamin followed him and collected the items mentioned in the charge.
He added that Joseph then raised an alarm and a police officer within the area chased and apprehended Benjamin and recovered the stolen items.
When asked by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry whether he had any other matters in court, Benjamin said that he previously served a sentence for having a gun and ammunition in his possession.
When given the chance to speak, he also told the court that a policeman cajoled him to commit a robbery. “Ah policeman name Eastman, tell me fuh go work fuh him. When ah find out is wha he want, he wanted me to go rob a Brazilian man. He assaulted and threatened to kill me. He put the gun to my head and pull the trigger, good thing meh box it away,” Benjamin said.
Mangru objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and also the fact that Benjamin has had previous troubles with the law.
As a result, bail was refused and Benjamin was remanded to prison until October 18.
