An allegedly handicapped man, accused of robbing a man while armed with an ice pick, was granted $150,000 when he appeared at the reopened Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Avenue of the Republic and Brickdam yesterday.
Christopher Gonsalves, 22, pleaded not guilty when the charge of robbing Sean Persaud of a gold chain while being armed with a weapon was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
The police allege that on January 15, at about 14:30 hrs in Georgetown, Gonsalves and another man on a bicycle, approached Persaud and his wife while they were walking on Camp Street in the direction of the prison.
According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, the accused proceeded to have an argument with Persaud. During the argument, Grant continued, Gonsalves stabbed Persaud with an ice pick and robbed him of his $100,000 gold chain in the process. Gonsalves and his cohort then made good their escape.
Attorney James Bond, who appeared for Gonsalves, said his client suffers from an injury received last year to his left leg. According to Bond, the injury prevents his client from straightening the wounded leg. Bond added that in order for his client to have escaped after the alleged robbery, he would have had to been able to run away, which is physically impossible for him.
Bond asked for bail in a reasonable sum. However, Prosecutor Grant objected, listing the nature and gravity of the offence and its prevalence as his reasons.
A limping Gonsalves was nevertheless granted bail in the sum of $150,000 and is scheduled to return to court on February 7 for statements.
