AN alleged 19-year-old clothes thief yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry charged with simple larceny.Kevin Christopher of 39 Houston, East Bank Demerara, pled guilty to the charge that alleged on May 13 at Albouystown, Georgetown, he stole a quantity of clothing valued at $42,000, property of Andel Harris.
Prosecutor Shawn Gonzales explained that Harris and the defendant are not known to each other.
The prosecutor noted that on May 12, Harris had given his female friend a quantity of clothes to be washed and hung in his yard. However on May 13, around 09:00 hrs when checks were made by him in the said yard, the clothes were discovered missing. Harris carried out his own investigation then proceeded to walk west along James Street in Albouystown when he saw the same defendant wearing one of his missing jerseys. Christopher had a bag in his hand and when opened by the man, the stolen clothes were found.
The defendant however explained that he was walking in Albouystown when some boys approached him and enquired if he was new to the village. When he said yes, they started beating him; and the defendant further stated that they went as far as to attempt slitting his throat with a razor blade. He was however saved by an Indian man who begged them for his safety.
Christopher explained that he entered the yard after he was directed by a man whom he asked for the location of the boys and took the clothes from the line, since he had been thrown out of his house and was homeless and had no clothes to wear.
The magistrate, considering the young defendant’s age, asked for a probation report. The defendant was remanded to prison and will return to court on June 5.