THIRTY-two-year-old John Blair was on Thursday sentenced to over four years’ imprisonment for the recent armed carjacking committed on a couple at Industry, East Coast Demerara.

Blair, of Melanie Damishana, also on the East Coast, appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for armed robbery and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He pleaded guilty to the charge, which alleged that on October 10, at Industry, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Joel Prince and Otisceia Innis of a motorcar valued $2.3M, two gold chains valued $234,000, along with $3,000 cash.

He also admitted that on the same day in question, he had a Taurus .32 pistol, along with five matching rounds.

Magistrate George sentenced Blair to four years, six months imprisonment, along with a fine of $100,000.

According to reports, on the day in question, Prince borrowed his uncle’s motorcar, PYY 9631, and went to Industry, where, after parking and securing it on the southern side of the main road, he and his girlfriend went for a short stroll across the way to relax a bit and enjoy some fresh air.

According to the police, Prince told them that he noticed a silver car drive past and immediately reverse, and that no sooner did two identifiable males exit the vehicle, than the one carrying a silver-and-black handgun held he and his girlfriend hostage, while his accomplice robbed them.

Not satisfied with whatever little pickings they got from Prince and his girlfriend, the men then went across the road for the victim’s car, but, unfortunately, as they were about to make good their escape in it, a police patrol came out of nowhere.

The victims, who by this time gotten over their initial fear, quickly alerted the police, who gave chase behind the robbers.  Blair, who apparently was the one behind the wheel, lost his nerve and drove headlong into an unfinished bridge in the vicinity of Plaisance, on the Railway Embankment, where he remained, immobile, until the police caught up with him.

His accomplice, on the other hand, somehow managed to escape.
When a search was carried out on the getaway vehicle, the loaded silver-and-black handgun with which Blair held his victims hostage was found in the front passenger seat.