An Alberttown man appeared yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to face charges of armed robbery on a Regent Street store and firing a gun with intent.
Andra Stewart, a resident of Lot 54 Fifth Street appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty charged with two offences. It was alleged that on the 26th of December while in the company of another at Lot 48 Regent and Alexander streets and being armed with a gun, Stewart robbed Sue Fa, a Chinese national of $3,000,000. Stewart pleaded not guilty to this charge.
Additionally he was charged with discharging a firearm with intent to disfigure on the same date at Zhao Peiming. Stewart also pleaded not guilty to this charge.
Stewart’s defence attorney Ronald Bostwick asked for his client to be placed on bail and stated that his client had no previous antecedents along with having strong community ties to the Alberttown area where he has lived all his life. Bostwick went on to add that his client is not a flight risk and can report to the Alberttown Police Station which is only a street away from his home once a week if needed. Stewart told the court that he was beaten, a bag was placed on his head and he wasn’t allowed to get a medical.
The prosecution objected to bail stating that CCTV footage implicates the accused and that the offence is serious. The prosecution also urged the court to take into consideration the amount that was stolen and the fact that these kinds of offences are prevalent during the holiday season.
The magistrate refused bail and the matter was adjourned to the 6th of January, 2025.
The police had said in a statement said that two men pulled up on a motorbike. One was armed with a gun and they proceeded to open the cashier’s drawer and took cash.
At this point, the police said that Zhao, a male Chinese and labourer employed with the victim, rushed up to the suspect who had the gun. The suspect discharged a round, which hit Zhao on his right thigh. The suspects then immediately ran out of the boutique, jumped on the motorcycle and rode away in an eastern direction.
Zhao was taken to the GPHC for medical attention.