2 jailed for robbery-under-arms

Arraigned in Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman’s court on a joint charge of robbery-under-arms committed on May 15 at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, 21-year-old Donovan Richardson of Lot 12 River View, Ruimveldt and 18-year-old Anthony Prince (address unknown) both pleaded guilty as charged.
The charge stated that the duo, on May 15, 2018 at Hadfield Street, while being in the company of each other and being armed with a knife, robbed Osafo Hale of his cell phone, bag, and $15,000, all to a total value of $56,000.
Richardson told the court that he saw Hale being robbed, and he intervened by snatching the virtual complainant’s (VC’s) phone away from one of the perpetrators who were attacking him. However, instead of giving the phone back to Hale, Richardson made off with it.
This prompted Magistrate Latchman to ask Richardson, “So it was a case of thieving from the thief?” and Richardson concurred.
Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, however, disclosed that the duo approached the VC while he was heading home and dealt him a cuff to his face. They then snatched his bag, which contained the cash and phone, before they made good their escape.
An alarm was raised, and Police on patrol in the area responded. The two suspects were later apprehended with the articles in their possession.
Magistrate Latchman told the duo that in order to deter them and others from committing similar offences in the future, she would be sentencing them to spend the next four years and six months in prison.
Richardson and 25-year-old Denzel Wilson of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) were also jointly arraigned for a robbery committed on Robert James.
The charge against them allege that on May 9, 2018 at Brickdam, while being in the company of others and being armed, they robbed James of two cell phones, one battery pack, and $78,000.
They denied the allegation, and were both remanded to prison.
Additionally, Wilson was charged for escaping from Police custody while he had been detained for questioning on a robbery offence. He pleaded guilty with explanation to the offence of escaping from lawful custody.
Wilson told the court that an officer had told him to leave after he had willingly reported to the Police Station, having witnessed a robbery. He said that after giving his statement, he was told to leave; but while doing so, he was recalled and arrested for the same robbery.
Wilson told Magistrate Latchman that in the sight of several officers he was leaving, and none of them had objected to him doing so. As such, the Magistrate entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Both Wilson and Richardson will return to Court on June 11.