MARK King (no address given) was remanded to prison yesterday, on a robbery under arms charge. He appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded not guilty to the offence, particulars of which said, on March 1, being armed with an ice-pick, he robbed Maria Sukdeo of a cell phone valued $15,000.
Police Corporal, Jairam Luckhai, prosecuting, said the virtual complainant was in a route 42 minibus talking on her phone when the defendant snatched it and ran into Agricola, East Bank Demerara.
The prosecutor said the woman disembarked the bus and chased after the defendant but he brandished the weapon and threatened to stab her. She became afraid and reported the incident to a mobile patrol in the area, causing the defendant to be apprehended and the phone recovered.
King told the court he bought a phone from a man for $1,000 but he had been smoking a joint of marijuana when the police approached him and he ran because of that.
He will make his next court appearance tomorrow.