Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
Teen prisoner charged for courtroom attack on robbery victim
A teenaged prisoner, facing several robbery under arms charges, yesterday appeared before a city Magistrate and was remanded to prison after being charged for attacking one of his suspected victims during a short adjournment in a city courtroom last month.
Accused: Wesley Griffith
A little more than three weeks after the incident, 19-year-old Wesley Griffith returned to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to face a common assault indictment.
The charge alleged that on June 20 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, he unlawfully assaulted 50-year-old Derek Haley. To the allegation, he pleaded guilty. He then said that at the time he was “stressed.”
Griffith also apologised to the court for this assault.
Lance Corporal Jomo Nichols explained that about 11:10 that day Haley was in Magistrate Judy Latchman’s courtroom to testify against Griffith on account of a robbery charge.
Nichols stated that during an adjournment, Griffith lunged from the prisoners’ dock and attacked Haley. The Prosecution said that the accused dealt the man several kicks and cuffs about his body.
Griffith was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence.
The Prosecutor informed the court too that aside from the case where he allegedly robbed Haley, Griffith is facing several other robbery charges before the courts.
Responding to his plea, the Magistrate who took note of Griffith’s age and the Prosecution’s facts stated that she will hand down her decision after she receives a probation report for him.
The case is set to be called again on July 30 for sentencing.
The incident, which raised security concerns, had occurred during another hearing for Griffith who is accused of robbing Halley of $200,000 in cash as well as $77,000 in electronic gadgets at his North Sophia, Greater Georgetown residence almost one year ago.
Griffith is also accused of the $5M Amelia Ward’s armed robbery, which occurred on January 31. There were six victims, all belonging to one family.
He was amongst four others, who on February 4, trailed their way into the courtroom of the Chief Magistrate to be named on several charges which included an armed carjacking and a robbery that netted cash, jewellery and electronic gadgets. He was also charged for gun and ammunition possession.
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