THREE men who had allegedly beaten and robbed Commissioner of Title, Nicola Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand, and discharged a loaded firearm at a security officer, yesterday appeared before magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. Anthony David, 28, of Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Damion Millington and Nicholas Narine, both 18, residents of Caesar Street, Agricola, were not required to plead to the two indictable charges of robbery, along with the additional charge of discharging a loaded firearm.
The first charge stated that on July 09, at Montrose, East Coast Demerara, the men, while in the company of another armed with a gun, robbed Mohamed Samad Chand of his wrist watch, sunshades, wallet, his Samsung galaxy 5S and $8,000 U.S., all valued at $2.3M.
The second charge alleged that the men, armed with a gun, robbed Justice Nicola Pierre of two cell phones, three video games system, along with 20 games discs, an HP laptop and a quantity of gold and gems, all valued at $1M.
The last charge detailed that the men discharged a loaded firearm at Ron Peters, an armed security guard at a neighbouring residence with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or to cause him grievous bodily harm. They were not required to plead to either of the charges. It was reported that the accused were positively identified by the victims.
David, in attempt to secure his freedom, explained to the magistrate that he was picked up from his work place at Mike’s Pharmacy by police ranks, who requested that he follow them to the station, and he complied. He further revealed that the ranks had shocked him to his genitals and brutally beat him during an interrogation when he denied knowledge of the alleged robbery.
In Court One on Monday, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones did not go into much details regarding the case. However he stated that it was due to an exchange of gunfire between a police SWAT team and a gang when, in the course of an operation at Craig, East Bank Demerara, on July 14, the defendants were arrested and another accomplice, Rolston Morrison, called ‘Mappy’ died.
Jones further revealed that a 9mm. pistol was recovered and ballistic tests carried out on the weapon that was recovered at the scene of the Tuesday morning shootout confirmed that it was used at the murder scene of Travis Rudder Snr. of Nandy Park and businessman Ganesh “Boyo” Ramlall.
Bail was refused and the matter was transferred to Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for July 30.
According to the police, at about 01:20 hr the perpetrators were able to gain entry into the judge’s premises after they overpowered a female Special Constable who was in one of the guard huts. The men reportedly gagged and bound the unarmed Special Constable, before proceeding to the three-storeyed house which was occupied by Justice Pierre, Mr. Chand and their 11-year-old son. Smashing through a window, the bandits then headed for the bedroom in which the couple lay asleep. They then preceded to gun-butt Justice Pierre and Mr. Chand, before carting off a small money-safe and a briefcase.
But an armed security guard at a businessman’s property saw the robbers, numbering about six, scaling the wall with their loot. The men also spotted the guard and heavy gunfire was exchanged between the guard and the bandits.
Overwhelmed by the guard’s firepower, the bandits dropped the safe and briefcase and fled in their car.
Police were alerted and captured the suspect’s minutes after, while the security guard handed over the stolen safe and briefcase.

By Clestine Juan