Labourer claims Police forced confession

Armed robberies

Twenty-four-year-old labourer Jerome Smartt, of C Field, Sophia Reserve, Greater Georgetown, was on Wednesday remanded to prison by city Magistrate Fabayo Azore after bail was refused on charges that he carried out two armed robberies on March 29, 2018.
Smartt is accused of using a handgun in the company of another person to rob Jamal Angus of US$200, 1 HTC mobile phone valued $26,000, and $1100 in cash. Smartt swiftly denied the charge.
He was also accused of using a gun to rob Donald David of his cellphone valued $40,000 on the same day in question at Prashad Nagar, Georgetown. Smartt also entered a not-guilty plea for that offence. The Court heard that a search was conducted on the defendant and a cellphone was found in his possession.
However, in Smartt’s version of events, he said that he found the phone on the road, and he added that he was in fear for his life. He claimed that Police forced him to confess to the crimes.
The presiding Magistrate remanded him to prison based on objections raised by Police Prosecutor Simon Payne over the serious nature of the offences. The labourer will make his next court appearance on April 25, 2018.