-refuses magistrate’s offer to learn a trade
Patrick Goodluck appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with larceny and sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty.
It was alleged that on February 6, at North Sophia, in Georgetown, he stole one gold chain valued at $200,000 from Savitree Lakeram.
Goodluck pled guilty to the charge.
When asked to explain why he did it, Goodluck told Magistrate McGusty that he had been applying to various places for work but was not receiving any favorable responses. He resorted to stealing as a means of providing for himself as he became frustrated. When asked if he was ever indicted before, he responded that he previously served a sentence of two years for an armed robbery offence.
The magistrate then asked him if he would be willing to learn a trade, to which he agreed. Based on this response, Magistrate McGusty remanded him until July 17 for a probation report. However, Goodluck changed his mind stating that he had already pleaded guilty and would just like to be sentenced. She then asked about the whereabouts of Lakeram’s chain and if it was ever returned, to which he gave no response. The prosecutor also indicated that the chain had not been returned to the victim.
As a result, Magistrate McGusty changed her ruling and sentenced him to 15 months’ imprisonment.
