A TWENTY-ONE-YEAR old murder accused was allowed to plead to three armed robbery charges and an attempted murder charge on Thursday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who applied the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) for summary hearing.After almost a month on remand, Jason Howard called ‘Smelly’ of East La Penitence, pleaded not guilty to three counts of armed robbery and an attempted murder charge.

The first charge alleged that on October 21, 2016 at Water Street, Georgetown, he wounded Quacy Joseph with intent to murder him. Joseph is a security guard attached to Electronics City branch on Water Street, Georgetown. He was shot during a robbery which took place within the store in the Fogarty’s building.

Howard was also charged with robbing Roopnarine Boodhoo of $8,000 cash on October 1, 2016 at North Road, Bourda. Another charge read that on November 18, 2016 at Oronoque Street, Queenstown he robbed fruit vendor, Sheik Sadik carting off $35,000 cash during the gunpoint ordeal.

The last charge alleged that Howard on November 6, at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara while being in the company of another, robbed Bibi Bacchus of $100,000 cash.

Howard is also currently on remand with co-accused Curtis Vasconcellos for robbing a Tower Suites accountant on Main Street and injuring a security guard in the process.

The duo was charged jointly for the offence, which alleged that on December 14, 2016 at Main Street, armed with a gun, they robbed Valdeo Seegobin of $2.9M cash, a cheque book, a haversack, hard drive and other items totaling $2,969,700.

The Chief Magistrate further remanded the men until February 1, 2017.