Adam McDonald and Jermaine Bailey, who were apprehended and charged after allegedly committing a brazen robbery on a phone store near police headquarters Eve Leary in October last year, were yesterday freed of the charges.
McDonald and Bailey were charged jointly on October 5, 2015 with robbing Troy Wong of a quantity of cellular phones valued at $1.2 million, and robbing John Campayne of $60,000 on October 2, 2015. It is also alleged that they robbed Derick Quaicoe of four cellular phones, valued $150,000.
On the same day, McDonald was reportedly found with a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol and two live rounds of 9 mm ammunition without being the holder of a valid firearm licence. He was charged with this offence.
The case was heard by Magistrate Fabayo Azore and in court yesterday, the magistrate quickly summarised the case. During the brief summary, it was stated that the defendants were jointly charged with three counts of armed robbery but the victims did not appear in court to give evidence. This resulted in the prosecution relying on the caution statement by the defendants.
The court heard that there was no evidence which showed that the defendants knew the robbery was going to happen nor was there anything in the caution statement to link the defendants to the crime. There was also insufficient evidence as it related to identification of the accused.
McDonald was also found not guilty of the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition charge as there was insufficient evidence.
After handing down the verdict, the men were warned by the magistrate not to appear in the courtroom again and to figure out what they want to do with themselves.
