CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Thursday, January 2, 2020, sentenced a 27-year-old clothes vendor to 18 months in prison and remanded his 22-year-old accomplice to prison on two counts of armed robbery.

Akeem Morris of Lane Avenue, pleaded guilty to the first charge and not guilty to the other charge while his accomplice, Samuel Shepard, of Sophia, pleaded not guilty to both charges, when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Particulars of the first charge stated that, on December 29, 2019, at Georgetown, while armed with cutlasses, they robbed Jose Sequuea of a phone valued at $40,000 and $4,000 cash.

The second charge stated that, on the same day, and at the same place, while armed with cutlasses, they robbed Diego Bettencourt of a phone valued at $25,000.

“I was standing and he come up to me saying something I couldn’t understand and I just fly in a passion and just start broadside he with the cutlass,” Morris said.

Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that, on the day in question, about 08:00hours, Sequuea and Bettencourt who are Cubans were at Stabroek Market purchasing some fruits. Morris, who was accompanied by Shepard, walked up to Sequuea, placed the cutlass at his neck and relieved the men of the articles mentioned above.

Mansfield added that Morris and Shepard attempted to make good their escape but the Cubans raised an alarm and gave chase. Police ranks on bicycle also gave chase. Morris and Shepard were arrested and taken to the station where they were positively identified by Sequuea and Bettencourt as the persons who robbed them.

Magistrate McLennan, after listening to the prosecutor, sentenced Morris to 18 months in prison on the first charge and remanded him on the second charge. His accomplice was also remanded to prison until January, 8, 2020.