After admitting to a series of charges inclusive of armed robberies and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, 26-year-old Joshua Joseph was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday.
Jailed: Joshua Joseph
The Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, resident was slapped with three armed robberies and two firearm-related charges. The first three charges read that on May 29, 2019, at Water Street, Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Sachinand Deosuraj, Zamid Baksh and Pareshram Persaud of a total of $115,000 inclusive of two cellphones.
The other two charges stated that on the same date at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, Joseph had in his possession four live rounds of .38 calibre ammunition along with one .38 revolver without being the holder of a firearm license.
According to facts presented to the court, on May 29, the victims, who are all vendors at the Stabroek Market, were in the vicinity of the Guyana Fire Service and Social Protection Department buildings when Joseph and an accomplice approached them with the gun and demanded their valuables while gun-butting the first two Virtual Complainants in the process.
Police ranks were on patrol in the area and gave chase to the defendant and his accomplice. However, Joseph was apprehended while the other suspect made good his escape.
A search later revealed the illegal weapon in Joseph’s possession and he was later taken in custody and charged for the present offence.
As such, Magistrate Daly handed down the sentence to the defendant and he will spend the next three years in prison.
