JAMAL Cromwell who was previously slapped with several robbery charges: discharging a loaded firearm and attempting to commit two felonies was, on Tuesday, sentenced to an additional jail term. The 20-year-old convict of 54 Dowding Street, Kitty in Georgetown, changed his not guilty plea and accepted two charges of attempting to commit a felony and discharging a loaded firearm before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on each of the three charges, which will run concurrently. Details of the charges stated that on Saturday November 23, 2013 at Irving and Anira Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, he attempted to rob Joel Sukra. He was also charged with attempting to rob Sarah Bisoondyal at Irving and Anira Street on the same day.
The other charge stated that on the same day, at Irving and Anira Street, he also discharged a loaded firearm at Police Constable 18438, Praim Narine with intent to maim or disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.
He was last year nabbed at a City hospital while being treated for the gunshot wound, he sustained after a police rank opened fire on him during an armed robbery attempt.
Police Corporal, Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said Constable Narine who was dressed in plainclothes was passing in one of the force’s motor vehicles when he observed the accused with a handgun and suspected that a robbery was in process.
About 18:20hrs on November 23 last, Sukra and Bisoondyal were reportedly walking at the corner of Irving and Anira Street, Queenstown when the accused confronted them with a handgun and demanded cash.
The constable exited the vehicle and approached Cromwell who then discharged several rounds in the officer’s direction.
The cop, in response, returned fire and hit the accused who then escaped on a motorcycle which was driven by an accomplice.
Cromwell was later apprehended at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted because of the injuries he had sustained.
Subsequent to him being discharged, he was charged and taken before the court on the seven charges. He had been held in remand ever since.
He was recently sentenced by Magistrate Judy Latchman on another robbery under arms charge.
He first appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on November 28 last year at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The charge to which he admitted; stated that on October 12 last, at Thomas Lands, while being armed with a knife, he robbed Javed Barakat of his iPhone valued at $160,000 and Tyrone Marok’s BlackBerry Curve valued at $45,000.
It was previously explained by the prosecution that about 17:15hrs on October 12 last year, Barakat and a friend were entering the National Park when they were confronted by Cromwell who was riding a bicycle.
Cromwell brandished a knife, placed it on the victim’s neck and relieved him of the iPhone and BlackBerry and later escaped on his bicycle.
When he appeared before the Chief Magistrate he was not allowed to plead to the charge and the case was subsequently transferred to Magistrate Fabayo Azore where the defendant entered a not guilty plea.
As a result a trial got underway earlier this year but he changed his plea on those two charges. Magistrate Azore said that before sentencing Cromwell she had considered both the mitigating and aggravating circumstances.
She said that she considered that a knife was used in the commission of the crime but thought was given to his age, the fact that he did not waste the court’s time as well as the fact that he has one minor child. As such; Magistrate Azore imposed a jail term of 18 months.
On Tuesday, in mitigation, he asked the Chief Magistrate to be lenient in her decision since he is already serving a sentence and is the father of a one-year-old.

(By Geeta Rampersaud )