Taxi driver granted bail in Hope Street robbery case

Taxi driver Owin Boston, who was previously remanded to prison in connection with a robbery at Hope Street, South Cummingsburg, has been granted bail following a second court appearance.
Boston, 24, appeared on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty.

He was once again represented by Attorney-at-Law Dominic Bess, who renewed his application for bail on the grounds that there had been no contact with the virtual complainant and that the prosecution was still without the complaint file. Bess also suggested that the matter may not proceed far, given the absence of substantial evidence linking his client to the crime.
In response, the prosecution said they had no objections to bail being granted, but requested that Boston be placed on reporting conditions. As such, Magistrate McGusty granted bail in the sum of $150,000 and ordered that the accused report to the Brickdam Police Station on the fourth Friday of every month, between the hours of 9:00h and 15:00h The case was adjourned to April 23.
Boston was initially charged on February 19 with the offence of robbery, which he denied. He had appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, who refused bail at that time, citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident allegedly implicated him.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Sunday, February 16. It is alleged that while in the company of others, Boston robbed Gloria Benn of a handbag valued at $5,000, a smartphone worth $40,000, and $30,000 in cash.
The prosecution had previously told the court that the victim was walking along Hope Street when a black station wagon, driven by Boston, pulled up. Two men, who were reportedly hiding behind a truck, emerged, snatched the woman’s belongings, and escaped in the vehicle.
At the time, Attorney Bess argued that Boston, a licensed taxi driver, had simply picked up two unknown men who flagged down his vehicle and had no knowledge of their intentions. He further stated that apart from his client’s vehicle being in the area, there was no direct evidence linking him to the robbery.
Magistrate McGusty, however, questioned the likelihood of robbers randomly flagging down a taxi in the middle of a heist and using it as a getaway car. She expressed interest in viewing the CCTV footage.
Boston was remanded to prison pending the availability of the video. With the case file still incomplete weeks later, the court has now decided to release him on bail with conditions.