A Bagotstown resident was yesterday sentenced in absentia by the Chief Magistrate to five years in prison for armed robbery.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan sentenced Orin Glasgow, 22, for robbing Felicia Gilchand of several items and cash totaling $469,000. According to the charge, Glasgow, while armed with a gun on December 31, 2016, at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, robbed the woman of her items and cash.
During the ruling yesterday, the Chief Magistrate was informed by Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore that the accused was a no show in court. Chief Magistrate McLennan who read her ruling despite Glasgow not being in the courtroom, said that in light of the evidence that had been presented to the court by the prosecution, the court felt that a prima facie case had been made out against the defendant in the robbery. She later opined that as such, the court had called upon Glasgow to lead his defence, which he did not do. She said that the court had relied solely on the evidence presented, and therefore, found Glasgow guilty of the charge.
The prosecutor upon hearing the decision of the chief magistrate told the court that Glasgow had been charged before for matters of a similar nature. He also informed the court that the defendant had been placed on bail during the trial.
The chief magistrate later sentenced Glasgow to five years in prison.
