Twenty-one-year-old Albert DeFreitas Jr was on Thursday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on three counts of simple larceny, wherein it is alleged that on November 25, on Battery Road, Kingston Georgetown, he smashed a window of a car belonging to the fiancé of iNews reporter Ramona Luthi to gain entry into the vehicle, and carted off therefrom thousands of dollars in valuables.
Albert DeFreitas Jr
The vehicle was reportedly parked while the couple was conducting a pre-wedding photo-shoot at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel, a short distance away.
Unrepresented by legal counsel, DeFreitas denied that he had broken into the car and stolen several electronic items, a quantity of cash, and other possessions which belong to the couple and their cameraman. Altogether, these items carry a value in excess of $500,000.
The Prosecution is contending that shortly after the incident, DeFreitas attempted to sell a laptop which was stolen from the car, but the prospective buyer, a woman, cancelled the transaction because of the suspicious actions of the perpetrator, and instead contacted the Police, allowing for ranks to intercept the suspect, who was nabbed with the stolen items in his possession.
One of the hard drives which were taken from the car was retrieved.
DeFreitas has further been charged with stealing a quantity of colognes and a handbag from Dexter Cummings on October 19, 2017 in Georgetown. He denied that charge also.
DeFreitas has been placed on $20,000 bail, and is expected to return to court of December 11, 2017.
