The Georgetown Magistrates’ Court was on Christmas Eve flooded with a number of theft charges in relation to over $280,000 in items.
Shiv Balkarran was standing in front of a popular food establishment on Hinck Street on December 23 around 12:00 hrs attempting to remove his gold chain when the accused Seon Henry reportedly approached and snatched it.
Henry proceeded to run in the opposite direction as Balkarran raised an alarm, the court was told. Several citizens gave chase and Henry was subsequently caught. Part of the $140,000 chain was reportedly found in the defendant’s shirt pocket. After the charges were read to Henry by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, the man pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. After he was refused bail, Henry was ordered to return for the filing of statements on January 24.
Alicia Williams and her friend Camille Trotman were robbed allegedly by Mark Winkie on December 23 as they were walking on Lamaha Street around 17:30 hrs. According to Prosecutor Mangru, Williams had her Blackberry Z10 valued $98,000 and Trotman’s phone, an LG Android phone valued $47,000 in her hand. The defendant snatched both phones out of her hand, the court was told and attempted to escape. However, Williams held onto his hand and he dropped her phone. The accused then allegedly attempted to escape again but was pursued by Williams and Trotman and was subsequently caught. Trotman’s phone was recovered.
After the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Mangru once again objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence but Winkie was nevertheless placed on $60,000 bail and ordered to return to court on January 31.
Two young men were also charged with stealing one gold chain, valued $3,000, property of Lisa Johnson.
It is alleged that on December 21 in Georgetown Devon Baptiste and Anthony Williams, aged 21 and 22 years old respectively, stole one gold chain from Johnson as she was entering a bus. According to Mangru, Baptiste snatched the chain from Johnson, who held onto him, and he handed it to his alleged accomplice Williams. Williams escaped but was later apprehended by public-spirited citizens.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecutor Mangru objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and stated that, if given bail, the defendants might not return to court.
The men were remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and are scheduled to return to court on January 24 for statements.