‘Trunkers’ fined for attempting to break and enter car

A FISHERMAN and his accomplice, a pensioner, were Thursday fined $75,000 each by Magistrate Judy Latchman for attempting to break and enter a car. Fifty-one-year-old Albert DeFrietas of Lot 100 Leopold Street, Georgetown, and 65-year-old Berty Gulliver of Robert Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, were both found guilty of the offence that said on Friday, January 23 at the Kitty Seawall, Georgetown, they attempted to break and enter and steal from the motorcar of Praim Narine.
The case is being prosecuted by Police Inspector Vishnu Hunt and both men are being represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr. Jad Vasconcellos. However, both men maintained their not guilty pleas throughout the trial.
DeFrietas was given the option to lead a defence and chose to give unsworn statements, during which he told the court that he had met with an accident one day before this incident.
DeFrietas called upon his son Albert DeFrietas jnr to testify on his behalf. Albert junior gave sworn testimonies, in which he told the court that the virtual complainant (VC) who is a police constable is always in a habit of harassing him and his father. He related to the court an incident involving himself and constable Narine, which his mother had reported to the Police Complaints Authority.
Magistrate Latchman in her ruling stated that the court found Albert jnr to be an unhelpful witness, since he cannot say what took place at the Kitty Seawall.
According to the prosecution, Gulliver drove his car alongside another car, after which DeFrietas made his way out of his accomplice’s car. DeFrietas then proceeded to towards the other car and inserted an object that appeared to be a key in the lock. Subsequently, Narine shouted at DeFrietas and he tried to escape with Gulliver, but they were later apprehended.
The magistrate found that based on the evidence, both men were found guilty as charged for the offence, De Freitas for breaking and entering the vehicle and Gulliver who acted as his consort, transporter and accomplice for his safe escape.
In mitigation, defence counsel asked that his clients be fined rather than given custodial sentences. He pleaded that Gulliver has a health condition; Counsel said De Freitas is the sole breadwinner for his family and a father of five with previous charges but no prior convictions. As it relates to Gulliver, he is married and is presently a taxi driver.
A failure to pay the fine will result in one month’s imprisonment for each of the convicts. However, they pleaded with the court for some time to pay the fine and were granted until yesterday.

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