THE FIVE men accused of robbing and feloniously wounding Land Court judge Nicola Pierre and her husband last July in a brazen home invasion in the gated community of Felicity, East Coast Demerara will today (June 17) know their fate.

Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul will make her ruling against Premanuth Samaroo, Daymein Millington, Nicholas Narine, Anthony David and Warren McKenzie who are jointly charged with robbing Justice Nicola Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand, as well as shooting at a security guard on July 9, 2015.

The men are accused of robbing Pierre’s husband, Mohamed Chand, at gunpoint of five wrist watches, a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone, US$8,000, a wedding ring, four Oakley sunglasses and one brown leather wallet on July 9, 2015 at Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

The second charge alleges that they robbed the Commissioner of Titles of a quantity of gold rings, diamond jewellery, a clump of gold, a quantity of gem stones among other items, all totaling $1M, while brandishing a gun. They are also accused of feloniously wounding Pierre and her husband.

In addition, the men are also charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Roy Peters, with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

The men have been on remand for the past 11 months waiting the completion of the trial, which began on January 11 at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

The matter was privately prosecuted by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, via means of a “Fiat,” rather than a state prosecutor assigned by the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

Attorney Adrian Thompson defended Samaroo; Narine and David. Hughes had called upon several police and civilian witnesses to testify in court.

According to reports, heavily-armed bandits inflicted a brutal beating on the Land Court Judge and her husband after overpowering an on-duty Special Constable and storming the couple’s home located in a gated community at Felicity, East Coast Demerara, on July 9, last. The couple was attacked while they were asleep. They were gun-butted into unconsciousness after the men, gained entry to their home via a window.

The robbers carted off a small safe containing US$7,000, jewellery, and a suitcase containing other valuables. But they were forced to drop their loot when they came under gunfire from a security guard who was stationed at a businessman’s home nearby. Pierre sustained a broken jaw and other injuries, while her husband received severe injuries to an eye. He has since lost the eye.