Teen remanded for armed robbery

A 17-year-old Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown resident was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a robbery under arms charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The unrepresented Joshua Austin, who told the Court that he worked at a ‘Blocks yard’, pleaded not guilty to the charge. It is alleged that on June 6, 2016 at Mandela Avenue, being armed with a knife he robbed Julius Patterson of one cosmetic silver ring, US00, Cdn, 20 pounds, 40 euros and G00.
The young man’s mother had to be called to the courtroom to verify his age as he first told the Magistrate he was 16 years old.
However, a copy of his birth certificate was given to the Magistrate which verified that he was 17 years old.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the Court the defendant was positively identified by Patterson and none of the stolen money was recovered.
Jeffers objected to bail on the grounds of the serious nature of the offence and the fact that a knife was used to carry out the act.
He further told the Court that the teen was not a first-time offender and had a pending matter at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
Austin was remanded to prison until June 17. The case was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court.