Brothers Darren and Franklin Wilson were yesterday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, jointly charged with the gunpoint robbery of police rank Matthew Williams on March 12, 2017 at Georgetown.
They are alleged to have relieved Williams of a gold chain worth $600,000 and a gold band worth $200,000, a total value of $800,000; and of discharging a loaded firearm at him with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause him grievous bodily harm.
The Wilson brothers – Franklin (left) and Darren (right)
Hauled before the magistrate in a dishevelled state, the brothers, respectively 19 and 20 years old, pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them by the magistrate.
Their legal counsel, Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-A-Fat, told the court that Darren is a fisherman by trade, while Franklin is employed as a mason, and has reportedly fathered one child from a common-law union.
A visibly distressed Franklin interrupted his attorney to plead his innocence with the magistrate: “I never ever hold a gun in my life!” he cried, despite the court officer’s attempts to silence him.
Police prosecutor Arvin Moore related that the gold chain was recovered at the crime scene when the VC gave chase to the fleeing robbers. According to Moore, in an exchange of gunfire between the parties, a total of nine shots were fired, and the spent shells were recovered at the scene. Fortunately, no one was injured in that firefight. He said that Williams, a licensed firearm holder, was responsible for three of the spent shells, while the remaining six were of unknown origin.
He thus objected to bail being granted the defendants based on the seriousness of the offence and in light of overwhelming evidence connecting them to the felony. He said that Williams had also positively identified the brothers as the perpetrators of the robbery.
When refused bail, Franklin was heard saying, “I have nothing to run from, Your Honour!”
