The three men held after the attack last week on the Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot at the Meadow Bank Wharf, Ruimveldt, East Bank Demerara, were yesterday charged with the crime, while two of them, described by police as “serial robbers,” faced a total of eight other charges, including the attempted murder of a victim.
Mervin Blackman, 25, a fish vendor, Nizam Bennie, 40, also a fish vendor, and Jason Brotherson, 20, a miner, were read a joint charge which stated that on December 2, at Meadow Bank Wharf, being armed with a gun, they robbed Shane Robin of $560,000 along with $1.5 million worth in fish glue. The stolen money and glue were the property of Leonard Jetoo.
Bennie was shot in both his legs by police, who responded to a report of the robbery, which occurred around 12.45am.
A Guyana Police Force statement said three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, stormed the depot and held Robin at gunpoint. They carted off an undisclosed amount of cash and other electronics, including a DVR and radio set.
The statement added that a public-spirited citizen, who witnessed the robbery, summoned the police, who responded within minutes and confronted the men in front the depot.
The statement further said that during the confrontation one of the unarmed suspects was shot to both legs and the other with the firearm ran back into the depot and hid himself in the ceiling. He was extracted shortly after with an unlicensed 9mm pistol with eight live rounds.
Blackman and Brotherson, described by the police as “serial robbers,” were read three joint charges.
It was alleged that on October 1, at Georgetown, while armed with a gun, they robbed Bramanand Chateram of items totalling $3,019,000 and which were the property of Bibi Safoor.
It is also alleged that on the same date and at the same location, they robbed Parmanand Chateram of a $10,000 phone and other items, all having a total value of $14,000. The final charge for the duo stated that in company of others, they robbed Parmanand Chateram of a phone and other items, all having a total value of $110,000.
Blackman, of Lot 33 Fifth Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, was then read five additional charges.
The court heard that on August 15, at Georgetown, with the intent to commit murder he discharged a loaded firearm at Carl Welshman.
On the same date, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he was also alleged to have robbed Welshman of $150,000 in items, including a $50,000 phone.
He is alleged too to have robbed Danny Singh of $50,000 in items on November 24 at Georgetown, also while in the company of others and armed with a gun.
Two other charges were read to him for unlawful possession of a gun and ammunition. It was alleged that on December 2, at Georgetown, Blackman had in his possession a Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol without being a licensed firearm holder and that he had 8 live 9mm rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Each of the men offered not guilty pleas to the charges.
Attorney Adrian Thompson entered an appearance on behalf of Blackman, whom he said was being framed by the police.
Thompson claimed that his client was placed on an identification parade but was not identified. He stated that about an hour or two later, the persons who were to identify his client went back to the station and indicated certain things to the police, which led to Blackman being placed on another identification parade, where he was picked out. As a result, Thompson told the court that the police are fabricating evidence against his client.
He requested reasonable bail for his client, while noting that he had been attending court on a regular basis in relation to another charge before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
Thompson also represented Bennie and requested that he be granted his release on bail for medical reasons since he would have been shot by the police in both legs. He lamented that the police have failed to allow Bennie proper medical care.
Brotherson, of Gordon Street, Kitty, was unrepresented.
The prosecutor objected to bail for all three men based on the prevalence of the offences as well as the penalty they attract. She also stated that Blackman has a matter of a similar nature in another court and the Bennie would have used a gun while committing the crime.
According to the prosecutor, all case files are incomplete.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan denied bail to the trio and adjourned the matter to January 6.
