One of the three accused in the Ramada Princess Casino robbery yesterday voiced his distrust of trial magistrate Judy Latchman, prompting her to seek to have the matter reassigned.
It is alleged that Wayne Griffith, Junior Stewart and Andrew Blackman, while being in the company of others and armed with guns, robbed cashiers of $8,951,000, which was the property of the Princess Casino, on April 29th, 2017, at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
When the matter was called yesterday before Magistrate Latchman, Griffith questioned the court and stated that he does not trust it. As a result, the visibly upset magistrate told the accused he had an attitude and asked that he apologise to the court. “This court has been taking copious notes and has three minute books,” the magistrate noted.
She then said if the accused does not trust the court, she would recuse herself from hearing the matter.
The case was then transferred to the Chief Magistrate’s court for
reassignment but it was subsequently returned to Magistrate Latchman’s court.
The matter was then adjourned until September 20th for continuation of the trial.
Previous reports indicate that four gunmen entered the casino and discharged rounds into the air. They held up the security guard who was on duty and took away his shotgun and ammunition, then proceeded to the cashiers, whom they relieved of foreign and local currency.
During the attack, four casino employees—Eon Garraway, Gregory, Orlando Knights and Udairan Sookraj—were shot. Lance Corporal 17352 Andrew Richardson, who is attached to the Brickdam Impact Base, was also shot during a gunfight with the men while responding to a report of the robbery.
