Attempted murder charge dropped against duo in hotel robbery

BASED on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP), Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan dismissed the charge of attempted murder against two men who shot at a Tower Hotel security guard during an armed robbery.This decision was made on Wednesday in favour of Jason Howard called ‘Smelly’, 21 of East La Penitence and Curtis Vasconcellos, 23, of Albouystown.

The duo was jointly charged with the attempted murder of Balmick Persaud during the course of the robbery on December 14, 2016 on Main Street, Georgetown.

However charges of felonious wounding and discharging a loaded firearm were instituted against the duo. The men were not required to plead to the two charges.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that while being armed with a gun on Main Street, Georgetown, they discharged a loaded firearm at security guard, Balmick Persaud with intent to maim, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

It is further alleged that on the said day, the men unlawfully and maliciously wounded Persaud to cause him actual bodily harm. The men were further remanded to prison and the matter is adjourned until February 16, 2017 for report and fixtures.

Meanwhile, after being on remand for the past two months, Howard and his co-accused were allowed to plead to an armed robbery charge when the Chief Magistrate applied the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) for summary hearing.

The men denied that on December 14, 2016 at Main Street, while in the company of each other, armed with a gun robbed Hotel Tower accountant, Valdeo Seegobin, of $2.9M cash, a cheque book, a haversack, hard drive and other items totaling value $2,969,700.

The matter is adjourned until February 14, 2017 for statements.

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