Thief gets two years for snatching Canadian’s bag

May 12, 2009 News

A man who police described as a petty thief was yesterday jailed for two years by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after he pleaded guilty to robbery. Dexter Hunte, 40, of South Haslington, on May 7, last, robbed Canadian citizen, Robert Cochran, of items valuing $55,000.

According to Police Prosecutor Seetaram, on the day in question about 02:30 hrs, Cochran and two others were drinking at a bar at the Stabroek Market.

He said that the defendant and two others entered the bar, and one of the men according to the prosecutor, was armed with a cutlass.

The prosecutor said that Hunte grabbed a bag containing the articles.

He said that Hunte proceeded to run away in an easterly direction and Cochran gave chase.

The thief was subsequently caught by a police patrol in the area, and taken to the Brickdam police station where he was charged.

Hunte, when asked by the magistrate to explain what happened, told the court that he snatched the bag but eventually gave it back to Cochran.

“I give he back all de things dem. You can’t see with meh yuh worship?”

But the got a two-year jail term. Also appearing before the said magistrate was Patrick Simmons, 22, of East La Penitence. He was charged with robbery using personal violence. It was alleged that on May 8, he robbed Patricia Hodge of one gold chain worth $29,000. It was further alleged that during or after the robbery he used personal violence against Hodge.

He pleaded not guilty.

According to the unrepresented defendant he was totally innocent of the charge which the police were alleging. However, Hodge who was present yesterday in court, said that Simmons was dragged off of her by her mother after he raised an alarm.

She said that he attacked her and she fell to the ground and he snatched her chain. She added that he was in the process of taking her bag when her mother heard her screaming. “I was on the ground screaming and he was still trying to get my bag even though he already had my chain”.

She said that her mother ran outside and was assisted by another eyewitness. Together they caught Simmons who tried to ride away on a bicycle. They then called the police who came and arrested Simmons.

Police Prosecutor Seetaram said that Simmons should not be admitted to his pretrial liberty because of the prevalence of the offence. He was remanded and is expected to make another court appearance later this month.