Man remanded for attempted robbery

A 28-year-old man was on Thursday remanded to prison by Magistrate Faith McGusty when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, to answer to a charge of attempted felony.

It is alleged that David Bernard, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, on January 30, 2016, at Kingston, Georgetown, in the company of another attempted to rob Virtual Complainant (VC) Deon Blackman, an employee of the Marriott Hotel.

The VC told the court that on the said day he was on his way to work when he was accosted by two men on bicycles, armed with a screwdriver, who demanded that he hand over cash and other valuables. He stated that he then attempted to escape from the duo by running away and scaling the fence of a nearby Government building, where he sought refuge.

He then reported the matter to the Police, who upon searching the area in the company of the VC, arrested the accused who was identified by Blackman as one of the men who accosted him.

Bernard, who was unrepresented, pleaded his innocence, claiming that on the day in question he was heading home from the seawall when he was stopped by a Police van and was subsequently arrested for the said offence.

The presiding Magistrate refused bail and the man was remanded to the Camp Street penitentiary until February 17, 2017, when the matter will continue at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.