Two break and enter and larceny defendants each placed on $160,000 bail

MINERS Anthony Rogers, 24, and Michael Lawrence, 33, both of Sand Road, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, pleaded not guilty to break and enter and larceny charges read to them in Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman’s Court yesterday.One charge alleges that on August 26, at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, the men broke and entered the dwelling house of Derwin Canterbury and stole one Blackberry cellular phone, one Plum cellular phone, two bags of clothing, one gold band, one flat hair iron and $10,000 cash, together valued at $117,000.

Particulars of the other offence are that, on the same day at Waiakabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, they broke and entered the dwelling house of Rita Hyman and stole one NG 950 gas powered generator valued at $19,000.

The prosecution’s facts in relation to the first charge are that Canterbury had secured his home on the day in question at about 22:30hrs and had retired to bed, but was awoken at about 01:45hrs by the crying of his baby boy.

He became suspicious after he went into his kitchen to make porridge for his baby and found his kitchen door open. He made checks, and discovered that five panes had been broken and the articles mentioned in the charge were missing.

Subsequently, he found foot tracks leading from the suspect’s home, and he summoned the police. Searches were conducted by the police in three homes, and some of the stolen articles were found in the number one defendant’s (Rogers) home.

Further investigations led to the number two defendant (Lawrence), and they both were arrested and charged.

Both men were represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Paul Fung-a-fat, who requested bail for the duo in a reasonable sum, pleading that it is their first appearance in court and that Lawrence is a father of a minor child.

They were each ordered to post $80,000 bail on each charge, and will make their next court appearance on October 18 before the Providence magistrate.

(With Geeta Rampersaud)