Osoffo Ward, who was one of the moneychangers robbed by armed bandits on America Street last November, yesterday identified accused Troy Abrams as one of the men who carried out the attack.
Ward, 32, was testifying in a city court at the trial of Abrams, 40, of Lot 93 Crane Housing Scheme, who is charged with robbing him of $540,000 during the attack.
Abrams and his now deceased co-accused, Anthony Primo, 30, of West Ruimveldt were also charged with robbing Ryburn Fraser of a quantity of currency, equating to $1,600,000, during the robbery.
Ward, who told that court that he has been a moneychanger for over 10 years, stated that on the day of the robbery he lost over $400,000 in local currency as well as some foreign currency.
Ward said that around 8.30pm he was standing on America Street converting currency when he observed two motorbikes speeding down the street heading west. The bikes, he said, approached him and he thought the two riders were going to change money but instead they began discharging gunshots into the air.
Ward added that it was after discharging rounds into the air that one of the men approached him. Out of fear, he said he put his hands up while the assailant, whom he identified to the court as Abrams, removed the money he had in his pocket.
Shortly after, Ward said, Abrams and Primo rode off in the western direction while continuing to fire shots into the air.
Ward stated that police arrived on the scene shortly after and collected his statement.
Ward stated that sometime later, he received a call and subsequently went to the Diamond Police Station, where he viewed an identification parade, which had eight persons, including Abrams, in the line-up. He added that he identified the defendant, whom he said held a paper with the number three, as the man that robbed him.
The America Street money changer was later cross-examined by Abrams’ attorney, Mortimer Codette and stated that he did not know the defendant before the attack took place.
Codette was unable to complete his cross-examination, which will continue today.
