Housekeeper slapped with attempted murder charge after man shot in chest
…also charged for robbery, illegal gun possession, ammo possession
A 19-year-old St Lucian woman was on Wednesday remanded to prison after being slapped with multiple charges, including robbery under arms, attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Charged and remanded: Condoleezza Henry being escorted from court on Tuesday
Condoleezza Henry, a housekeeper and mother of a nine-month-old baby, appeared unrepresented before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where she denied all but one of the allegations. She pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence and guilty with an explanation to possession of ammunition without a licence, telling the court the weapon belonged to her child’s father and had been left at their home.
Henry, who resides at the Guyhoc Squatting Area, was also charged with robbery under arms and attempted murder stemming from a June 20 incident at Princess Street, Lodge. It is alleged that she, along with others and armed with a knife, robbed 69-year-old Claudius Fraser, Operations Manager at Calibre Security Services, of a .32 revolver worth $165,300 and $495,000, totalling $660,300. She pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The court heard that during the robbery, Henry and her accomplices used Fraser’s stolen revolver to shoot him in the chest. Although Fraser was discharged from the hospital, the prosecutor revealed that a bullet remains lodged in his chest, and he is scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday.
The charges followed a cordon and search operation conducted by police between 15:30 and 16:30 on July 6 at the Guyhoc Squatting Area, where ranks searched several homes for stolen items, firearms, narcotics, and wanted persons. Based on intelligence received, they searched the home shared by Henry and 29-year-old Kristoff Nicholson, who remains on the run, and recovered a .32 revolver, one live round, and a spent shell hidden in a speaker box.
After being arrested and taken to the East La Penitence Police Station, Henry was charged and later brought before the court. The prosecution strongly objected to bail on the grounds of public safety, the nature and seriousness of the offences, and the ongoing medical condition of the virtual complainant.
Despite her explanation, Magistrate McGusty denied bail and remanded Henry to prison until July 30.
