A taxi driver was yesterday charged with shooting at the Buxton miner who was wounded last week after he chased after the two men who robbed him of an almost $1 million chain.
Lester Joseph, 33, of West Ruimveldt, was charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Collin Accra on September 2, at King Street.
It was also alleged that being armed with a firearm, Joseph robbed Accra of a gold and diamond chain, valued at $950,000.
Joseph also faced a charge for possession of a .32 pistol on the same date and another charge for the possession of five live rounds of matching ammunition.
Joseph denied all four charges.
Bail was objected to by prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, who also told the court that the accused had an unlawful wounding charge in a court in the North West District.
Based on the prosecutor’s objection, Joseph was remanded to prison until October 2.
Police had previously said that that Accra, 44, of Middle Walk, Buxton, was a passenger of a Route 44 minibus at the bus park on Hinck Street, Georgetown when two robbers, including one armed with a handgun, pounced on him and relieved him of his gold and diamond chain, and fled in the direction of the Stabroek Market.
Police noted that in an effort to reclaim his chain, the miner chased behind the men but during a confrontation at the Stabroek Market, the gunman fired several rounds, hitting him on his left hand and buttocks.
Police added that a few days after the robbery, Joseph, in the company of his attorney, turned himself in and had admitted to committing the crime and also to the ownership of an unlicensed firearm with five live rounds. The gun, ammunition and jewellery were found in a car that was abandoned, in close proximity to the crime scene. Police had the vehicle towed to the Brickdam Police Station, where a search uncovered the gun, ammunition and jewellery in the car.
