A teenager, accused of using a cutlass to rob two sisters in the city on Saturday night, got a reprieve yesterday when one of the women told a court that she would not be offering any evidence against him.
And although Devon Wallis, 17, of Lot A Louisa Row, was subsequently remanded to prison on the remaining armed robbery charge against him, his lawyer told the court that the victim would also not offer any evidence against him.
It is alleged that on August 30, while armed with a cutlass, Wallis robbed Vinita Dyal of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, valued at $120,000, at Vlissengen Road, Kitty. Immediately after, it is further alleged, Wallis robbed Dyal’s sister, Crystal Maraj, of a $3,500 sports bag, $2,000 worth of cosmetics and $10,000.
Police Inspector Michael Grant said the attack occurred at 9:40 pm on Saturday, while Dyal and another were at Vlissengen Road and Duncan Street. Wallis allegedly approached her, placed a cutlass to her neck and demanded her phone, which she had in her hand at the time, he said. Grant told the court that Dyal became afraid and handed over the smartphone to Wallis, who made good his escape. Wallis ran away but after Dyal raised an alarm a police mobile patrol in the area gave chase. Grant said Wallis was subsequently apprehended with the phone on his person.
An unrepresented Wallis initially accepted that he robbed Dyal but denied that he robbed Maraj. However, when the case was called again following his arraignment, Wallis, through his lawyer Paul Fung-A-Fat, retracted his guilty plea. Additionally, Maraj, who was not present when the charges were first read to Wallis, showed up and told the court that she would not be offering any evidence against him.
Maraj subsequently swore that she no longer wished to pursue the matter and Magistrate Judy Latchman dismissed the case.
Fung-A-Fat informed the court that Dyal, who did not appear in court, would also not be offering evidence against Wallis. Latchman, however, eventually remanded Wallis and adjourned the case until today, when Dyal is expected to inform the court of her decision.
