Written by Jenel Rockcliffe
OWIN McKenzie of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice and Gavin Peterson of 185 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown appeared on Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and denied that on October 5, in Croal Street, Georgetown, they used a chopper to rob Queen’s College student Danraj Latchman of his Blackberry cellular phone valued at $30,000, causing a police officer to use his firearm.Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said the virtual complainant and his cousin were heading to the Route 44 bus park in the late afternoon when the two accused intercepted them.

Mckenzie, who was armed with a chopper, demanded the cell phone from Latchman, who handed it over. An alarm was then raised, and a policeman who was in plain clothes went to assist the robbery victims, but Mckenzie raised his chopper in the air, and as a result was shot in his leg.
The stolen cellphone was returned to the virtual complainant, and the two defendants were arrested and charged with the offence.
“They don’t like me, that’s why they shot me!” Mckenzie said when given a chance to speak.
The Chief Magistrate then asked the two defendants if they were ever charged and placed before the court, and they responded affirmatively.
Mckenzie then complained that his leg was paining him, since the police shot him and he had not received any treatment for his injury.
Peterson asked to be placed on bail, but the magistrate reminded him that both he and his co-defendant had previously been convicted for robbery.
They were remanded and the matter will continue on October 21.