Two men were on Friday remanded to prison, after they appeared in court in connection with a series of armed robberies which occurred in the city last week, in which the victims were relieved of articles valued more than $800,000.
Rex Blanche, 34, and Michael York, 23, were jointly charged with eight armed robbery offences, which were read to them by Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
According to Prosecutor Sanj Singh, on April 26, at the Promenade Gardens, the victims were confronted by York, along with another person, who was armed with a gun. They reportedly robbed the victims at gunpoint and escaped in a motor car, which was driven by Blanche.
Investigations were conducted and Blanche and York were arrested. They were cautioned and allegedly later gave statements. Two cellphones belonging to two of the victims were found in the possession of both accused, the court heard.
The charges read against the men on Friday alleged that on April 26, at the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown, Blanche and York, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Christiana Sanchara of a phone valued $50,000 and on the same date and at the same location, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, they robbed Sahshana Sanchara of one gold chain valued $60,000, a gold band valued $150,000, a silver band valued $25,000 and a phone valued $50,000.
It was further alleged that on the same date and at the same location, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, the duo also robbed Gangadei Ramcharran of her documents, $15,000 in cash, a phone valued $50,000 and a handbag valued $7,000.
Another charge alleged that on April 26, at the Promenade Gardens, the two men, while being armed with a gun and in the company of others, robbed Shawn Ramdial and Simone Wickham of two phones valued $8,000 each.
The duo was also accused of robbing Marcel Wickham on the same date and at the same location, of a purse valued $20,000, a phone valued $155,000, and $8,000 in cash, and relieving her of her documents.
The two final charges alleged that on April 29, at Garnett Street, Kitty, while being armed with a gun, they robbed Orin Hamilton of a phone valued $70,000 and $5,000 in cash and on April 29, at Light Street and North Road, Georgetown, they robbed Alciner Paulino DaSilva of a phone valued $113, 000.
They denied all eight charges.
Attorney George Thomas, who appeared on behalf of Blanche, in his application for bail told the court that Blanche is a taxi driver who suffers from hypertension. He said that Blanche, a father of two, was only doing his job as a taxi driver.
They were subsequently remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned until May 31, 2019.
