– including armed robbery at home of retired deputy police commissioner
A MASON of Lot 1189 ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown was remanded to prison yesterday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry when he appeared on twelve different charges, including carjackings and armed robberies.
Keron Cummings, 24, pleaded not guilty to three counts of robbery under arms committed on three individuals on Thursday, February 20, at Lamaha Park, Georgetown.
Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said on that day around 11:20hrs, retired Deputy Police Commissioner Clinton Conway and his relatives Kimberly Alphonso and her husband Diego Alphonso were at their Lamaha Park home watching television when Cummings and two others entered their home and demanded all their cash and jewellery at gunpoint .
The three men relieved Conway of $255,000 cash along with other articles, Kimberley Alphonso of $30,000 cash and Diego Alphonso of $235,000 cash and a cellular phone. They made good their escape and the matter was reported to the police.
The accused also pleaded not guilty to two other charges committed in the city. Particulars of the first offence said that on March 10 at Guyhoc Park, being armed with a gun, he robbed Collin Williams of one motorcar valued $3M, $50USD, $20CAN, $20EC, one wristwatch, one cellular phone, and $8,000 cash, together valued $3.1M.
The prosecutor said the virtual complainant (VC) is a taxi driver operating at Stabroek Market area, Georgetown. The defendant hired his taxi to go to Guyhoc Park and on arrival Cummings placed a gun to the VC’s head, demanded the articles stated in the particulars along with the motorcar and drove away.
Particulars of the other offence said that again on March 6 at Durban Backlands, Georgetown, he committed a similar offence on another taxi driver Lionel Seenarine. The prosecutor said the virtual complainant operates at Diamond car park on the East Bank of Demerara and on the day in question he was hired by the accused to transport him to Durban Backlands. On arriving at the area, the accused again placed a gun to the taxi driver’s head and relieved him of his motorcar valued $3M.
He pleaded not guilty to another charge that said on March 12 at Lamaha Springs, Georgetown, he made use of threatening behaviour towards Garlanda Benn.
Grant said on that day around 14:15 hrs, the VC was on her veranda sitting when Cummings went to her home and asked for some water. She told him she did not have any water and he pulled out a gun and told her “You go see what go happen, I will shoot you.” Benn became fearful for her life and dropped herself to the ground and crawled into her house. She then called the police and reported the matter.
The accused was not required to plead to six other charges which were transferred to be heard before Magistrate Alex Moore.
It was alleged that on December 31, 2013 at ‘A’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, he broke and entered the dwelling home of Loraine Adams and stole one CD player, one DVD player, one chainsaw, one electrical saw, five electrical drills, two monitors, one music mixer, 11 door locks, one diamond ring, three pairs of gold earrings, a quantity of clothing and footwear together valued $2,671,500.
The prosecutor said that around 10:00 hrs, the VC secured her home by the means provided and left for work, and on her return home around 20:30 hrs, she discovered the front door was open and the articles stated in the charge were missing.
Cummings was not required to plead to the offences that said on March 14, he had one revolver and three live rounds of.38 ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
Another charge stated that on the same day, he discharged a firearm at Detective Constable Marvin Richards with intent.
Particulars of two of the five indictable charges were attempt to commit a felony, that is to say being armed with a gun he attempted to rob Ezra Roberts and Shaundella Marks on Friday, March 14 at ‘C’ Field Sophia. In this case, police on a stake out observed a man and a woman walking on 7th Street, ‘C’ Field Sophia, when the accused was seen walking behind them. He reached up to the two persons and pulled a gun and was about to hold on to the woman when a policeman shouted “do not move”, the prosecutor related.
Cummings then discharged two rounds at Detective Constable Marvin Richards. The officer returned fire and hit the accused who fell into a nearby trench. He was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he was admitted a patient and held under police guard. After he was discharged from the hospital he was identified and subsequently charged for the offences.
Prosecutor Grant successfully objected to the pretrial liberty of the accused, citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the charges. He said extreme violence was used and also a weapon was used in the commission of the offences.
The unrepresented accused will return to Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on April 22 for the five counts of armed robbery and threatening behaviour and will make his next court appearance at Sparendaam Court on April 14 for the other offences.