ANDREW Taylor (no address given) was yesterday sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravation.Before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates Court, the 35-year-old prisoner pleaded guilty to the offence that, on Saturday, December 28 last, at La Penitence Market in Georgetown, he robbed Kataya Da Silva of his motor car.

Police Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, said that on the day in question, at around 13:00 hrs, the virtual complainant was at La Penitence Market removing some bags from the trunk of motor vehicle PRR 7690 when he heard the engine start and, upon checking, he saw Taylor in the driving seat.

Da Silva held on to the side of the vehicle, attempting to hold the steering wheel and prevent the vehicle from moving any further, but Taylor dealt him a cuff to his mouth and continued driving, dragging the latter for several metres before Da Silva managed to raise an alarm and public-spirited citizens came to his rescue. Among Da Silva’s rescuers was a licensed firearm holder who fired two shots in the air, and Taylor subsequently crashed and exited the vehicle.
He attempted to escape through Fourth Street, Alexander Village, but was apprehended by police.

Claiming he was under the influence of cocaine, Taylor offered to compensate the virtual complainant, and begged the court for leniency.

Magistrate Latchman said she had taken into consideration the convict’s plea, since he did not waste the court’s time and had accepted responsibility for the offence.
Written By Geeta Rampersaud