Two men, one accused of using an ice pick and the other a screwdriver to rob their alleged victim of $18,000 and a Blackberry cell phone were on Friday remanded to prison after being arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The charge against Samuel Duncan and Kevin Dodson is that on October 30 at Church Street, Georgetown, being armed with an ice pick and screwdriver respectively, they robbed Navindra Sarwan of a Blackberry cellular phone valued $40,000 and $18,000.
The jointly-charged duo denied the charge when it was read to them by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Initially, Duncan accepted the charge explaining that he walks armed with an ice pick for protection because he had previously been attacked and stabbed to his abdomen and ribs with a similar weapon.
When asked by the chief magistrate whether he was guilty of committing the offence however, Duncan responded in the negative after which a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
The prosecution’s facts are that on the day in question at about 23:30 hours, Sarwan was walking along Church Street when he was approached by the defendants who were on a bicycle.
The court heard from Prosecutor Michael Grant that the men came off the cycle with a screw driver and an ice pick with which they stabbed the complainant before relieving him of his belongings and making good their escape.
The matter was later reported to the police and investigations conducted which led to the defendants being arrested and charged.
Both men were unrepresented by counsel.
Duncan resides at Lot 95 North East La Penitence and works as a poultry farmer and construction worker.
Meanwhile, Dodson, a seaman, lives at 129 Grove; East Bank Demerara.
The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that both defendants have similar pending matters before the courts and also on the grounds that the complainant sustained injuries causing him to be hospitalized.
Grant informed the court that Sarwan’s condition was listed as stable, but said he could not confirm whether the man had been discharged from hospital.
The defendants were remanded to prison and will make their next court appearance on November 14.
