A man who appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Wednesday charged with robbery under arms, pleaded guilty, but offered an explanation of acting in self defence, evidence of which, he claimed, was captured on CCTV.
It is alleged that on April 13, 2024 on Avenue of the Republic in the vicinity of the New Building Society, Grenville Odele, while armed with a cutlass, robbed Andrew Peter Noble of one Samsung galaxy phone valued $27,000 a gold ring valued $36,000 and $40,000 in cash, total value $103,000.
The prosecution told the court that Noble and the defendant were not known to each other. On the date in question around 22:45 hrs, the court heard, Noble was walking along Avenue of the Republic when the defendant approached him from behind and dealt him a chop to his right hand causing Noble to fall to the ground. Then, the defendant pushed his hand into Noble’s pockets, took the items and fled.
However, Odele told the magistrate that the prosecutor was incorrect. He said that he had parked his vehicle in the area of a nightclub when he noticed Noble with whom he had a verbal exchange the night before.
He said he put his items on the ground when Noble approached him, picked up his water bottle and proceeded to douse him with it. He then said he retaliated by taking the drink he had and throwing it on Noble, after which Noble picked up a round board and dealt him a few lashes. He told the court that he then left and returned with his cutlass, ran Noble down, hit him with the broadside of the weapon, then dealt him one chop.
He said the nightclub’s security guard then approached him and told him that he “killed the man” after which he returned to his vehicle and left. Odele told the magistrate that the altercation was caught on CCTV and requested that the footage be shown in court at the next available occasion.
The prosecution rebutted that the stolen items were retrieved from the defendant and that the police were in possession of the CCTV footage and eyewitness statements, which will be made available at the next court date.
When asked why he should be granted bail Odele told the magistrate, “if you knock me, I am not a mad man to just pick up a cutlass and chop you; it was in self-defence”.
The magistrate denied bail and the matter was adjourned to May 9, 2024, for a probation report.
