Three men were on Friday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on two counts of robbery totalling $20.8 million in cash.
The accused,24-year-old Joshua Haynes, 24-year-old Beris Parkinson and 18-year-old Randy Crossman appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh and each entered a not guilty plea. According to the first charge, the trio, while acting together on Tuesday, August 19, at Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, allegedly robbed Paul Calendar of $20 million. The second charge alleges that on the same date and location, the men robbed a Chinese national of $800,000.
Attorney Dominic Bess, representing Haynes, told the court that his client is a small business owner with no pending matters or prior convictions. Bess explained that on the day of the alleged robbery, Haynes was simply giving the other two defendants a drop to Albouystown before leaving the area.
Randy Crossman
He argued that Haynes had no involvement in the crime and upon learning that police were seeking him, voluntarily turned himself in, where he denied the allegations. Bess, who also represented Parkinson, stressed that Parkinson similarly had no criminal history. He claimed his client was arrested in Annandale and assaulted by police while in custody. Bess added that Parkinson was pressured into a video-recorded interview, during which he denied any wrongdoing.
He further argued that the charges were bailable and asked the court to grant both Haynes and Parkinson reasonable bail.
Meanwhile, Attorney Stacy Goodings, representing Crossman, described her client as a young labourer appearing in court for the first time. Goodings stated that Crossman has no passport and categorically denies the allegations.
Joshua Haynes and Beris Parkinson
She explained that Crossman was actually the victim of a bus accident on the day in question and was speaking with the driver when a group of unknown individuals swarmed the bus. Goodings said video evidence exists that supports her client’s version of events. The attorney also emphasised that no wanted bulletin was issued for Crossman, nor was he placed on any identification parade or face-to-face confrontation with the complainants. She urged the court to consider reasonable bail, even with strict reporting conditions. The prosecutor objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the charges, the penalties they attract and the overall nature of the offence. The court was informed that CCTV footage captured the robbery and that each defendant identified themselves in the recording.
The prosecution also noted that Haynes had only recently been released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for robbery.
When the footage was played in court, the prosecutor pointed out the men, who appeared to be on bicycles, but Bess countered that nothing in the recording clearly established that a crime had taken place.
Magistrate Singh ruled that the evidence and disputes raised would be settled at trial. She granted each defendant bail in the sum of $300,000.
The matter has been adjourned until September 26.
