A man was yesterday remanded to prison on a charge that he allegedly stole a BlackBerry smartphone from another man.
It was alleged at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court that on November 15 at West Ruimveldt, while in the company of others, Mark Lovell, 44, of Lot 44 Friendship, East Bank Demerara, armed with a gun, robbed Rico Persaud of a BlackBerry cellular phone valued $50,000.
Lovell pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Prosecutor Renetta Bentham objected to bail being granted because of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and also the fact that a gun was used in the attack. She also suggested that Lovell was a flight risk and may not return for trial if granted bail.
Lovell, when given a chance to speak, said that he is a father of four children. He added that he works in the interior and only returned to the city three weeks ago.
“Is only three weeks I come from the interior. I know he [Persaud]. He does live right next to my mom. Yo’ honour, the only weapon I had on me that day was a screw driver, ’cause I does do technician work too. He took my phone and I see he with the red BlackBerry, suh I went up to he but me ain’t do he nothing. When the police check he after I report he, he had plenty BlackBerry pun him,” Lovell said.
Magistrate Judy Latchman, however, remanded him to prison until December 5, when the matter will be called again.
