Sobbing robbery accused remanded to prison

A visibly disappointed Shawn Charles exited Magistrate Judy Latchman’s courtroom at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, sobbing vigorously after being denied bail on a robbery charge.

It is alleged that while being armed with a “pointed object”, Charles robbed Faith Sam of a quantity of items valued at $11,500 at Sussex Street, Charlestown, Georgetown on March 24, 2017.

That same day, at the same location, Charles then allegedly relieved Shem Negall of an HTC cellphone valued $40,000 and one Samsung smartphone valued $45,000, a total value of $85,000.

The 28-year-old, who is a student of a popular city computer school, pleaded not guilty to the offence. Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat in a bail application said his client was a resident of Cummings Street, Alberttown, Georgetown.

The court heard that Charles engaged in vending to pay for his studies. His defence counsel, in making a bail application, argued that the stolen articles were at no point found in his client’s possession, contending that it was obviously a case of mistaken identity.

However, the prosecution objected to bail, maintaining that Charles was highly unlikely to return to court in the event he was released on bail. The court was also told that the offence was of a serious nature, involving the use of a weapon.

Magistrate Latchman rejected the defence’s application. The case will continue on April 10.