A DUO accused of robbing a businesswoman at gunpoint in Agricola were Friday remanded to prison by chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on an armed robbery chargeAdam Downes, a 21-one-year-old porter of Lot 34 Public Road, Agricola and Simon David of 21 Public Road, Agricola were slapped with the charge that alleged on April 16 at Agricola, armed with a gun robbed Nathalie Outridge of $565,000 cash, her $35,000 cell phone along with other items valued $45,000 – totalling $650,000.
Both men denied the allegation and Downes’s lawyer, Mr. Leslie Sobers, told the court that his client has an air-tight alibi, that on the day of the robbery his client was at the Providence Magistrates court on trial for robbery, it was then after his hearing he reported to duty, when the police arrested him at his worksite.
The lawyer explained that Downes’s, employer and co-worker can testify to his alibi, citing that it was a case of mistaken identification or simply wrongly profiled by the police. Sobers noted that there is not nexus in the relationship between his client and the other accused beside the fact that they both live in the same village.
Police Prosecutor, Bharrat Mangru told the court that on the day in question about 10:35hrs, the woman stopped at a shop in the village, to make a purchase, when David, who was armed with a gun, appeared beside her and apprehended her.
The court heard that is was Downes who had cuffed the woman, while relieving her of the mentioned articles. The matter was reported and based on diligent investigations; David and Downes were arrested and subsequently charged.
Mangru objected to bail, citing the seriousness, prevalence and penalty that the offence attracts if the defendant is to be convicted. He also argued that Downes was charged for a similar offence and it was alleged that while he was on bail the offence was committed.
The prosecution’s objection was upheld, statements were ordered while the matter was transferred to Magistrate Judy Latchman for May 6.