DWAYNE Harris, alias ‘Buck’, of Lot 124 Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who robbed the Berbice branch of Geddes Grant whilst being armed with a gun in 2009, was sentenced to five years imprisonment yesterday. The penalty was imposed on him by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo, in New Amsterdam Court after he confessed to the crime.
Harris was jointly charged with Courtney Patterson, a 37-year-old taxi driver, but the prosecution withdrew against the latter, allowing him to walk free.
Harris spent in excess of two years as a remanded prisoner, having been refused bail before he changed his plea to guilty.
On April 2, 2009, Harris, riding a bicycle, confronted Jacqueline Ramballi, an accounts clerk and an unarmed security guard, both employed by Geddes Grant, as they exited their place of employment to make a deposit at a banking institution a stone’s throw away.
The robber fired his weapon at the guard but missed him and escaped with two safety deposit bags containing cash.
An eyewitness saw the convict discarding the weapon and the bicycle and enter a vehicle which developed mechanical problems and caused police to be able to apprehend him and recover the booty.