2 armed robbery suspects remanded

A Laing Avenue youth was on Tuesday charged in Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan’s court following the recent armed robbery of a city businessman, during which he was shot to the left leg in an exchange of gunfire by Police Officers, who were in pursuit.

It is alleged that Nykoseye Gittens, while being in the company of another at Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, and armed with a gun, robbed Ganpat Seepersaud of $400,000 in cash and other valuables, a total value of $494,000, property of one Kartak Kumar.

The 23-year-old then fled the scene on a waiting motorcycle and was chased by Police ranks through the area after the VC raised an alarm. Gittens reportedly shot at the pursuing ranks who returned fire, hitting him to the leg. The accused was subsequently hospitalised and later discharged. He was arrested and charged with the offence shortly after.

In an unsuccessful application for bail, defence counsel Stanley Moore related that his client was employed in his mother’s shop in Laing Avenue and was shot while he was at a barber shop getting a haircut, contrary to Police facts. The Attorney added that the injured man was hospitalised and was presently in immobile owing to the injuries received. These injuries, Moore contended, were aggravated when Gittens attempted to use the washroom at the Police Station where he was detained.

Bail was denied. The defendant will remain incarcerated until May 19, 2017 when the matter is expected to continue at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Meanwhile, court continued throughout the lunch period as the Chief Magistrate (for reasons unspecified) left her chambers in Court One to preside over a matter of similar nature in Court Ten.

The charge against Alfred Hescott read that on March 28, 2017 at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, in the company of others while being armed with a gun, he relieved Virtual Complainant (VC) Junior Liverpool of a gold chain valued $48,000.

Moreover, the accused, on the same day at the same location, robbed a second VC, Albourne Parker, of a gold chain valued $175,000.

Hescott stood casually in the prisoner’s dock as the charges were read to him by the Magistrate, denying any knowledge of same when given a chance to speak.

The Prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant reportedly confessed to the crime in a caution statement. The court heard that the prosecution’s file was incomplete as a result of ongoing investigations of the other persons allegedly involved in the robbery.

The 22-year-old was remanded to the Camp Street Prison pending trial, and was expected to return to court on May 15, 2017.