Police fired at accused $120,000 gold chain snatcher
UNEMPLOYED Adrian Blackman, 19, appeared before Magistrate Allan Wilson yesterday, charged with simple larceny. It is alleged that he stole a gold chain, valued $120,000, from Vanessa Philander. The charge was indictable but the Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Lionel Harvey made a successful application for the Administration of Justice Act (AJA), which allowed the defendant to plead not guilty.
But the Prosecutor objected to Blackman (no address given) to be granted bail, on the basis of the seriousness of the offence and that the latter is a flight risk.
The Prosecutor said the defendant rode up to Philander on a bicycle, snatched the jewel off her neck and began riding away but was chased by some residents of the area and police fired rounds at him.
He was not hit but the police managed to apprehend him, the Court was told, prior to Blackman being remanded to prison until February 24.