Casino robbery accused provided detectives with statement

Feb 14, 2018 News

Andre Blackman, Junior Stuart and Wayne Griffith

Wayne Griffith, who along with others is accused of carrying out a multimillion-dollar gunpoint robbery at the Princess Casino, provided detectives with a statement while he was kept in custody at the Ruimveldt Police Station.
This is according to Detective Inspector of Police, Herbert Henry, the Officer in Charge of crime at the station. Inspector Henry was called to testify Monday when the trial of Griffith of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara; Junior Stuart of Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown; and Andre Blackman of Middle Street, McDoom, East Bank Demerara; continued before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is alleged that on April 29, 2015, the trio, while in the company of others, and armed with guns, robbed Daniel Roberts and Alfea Gajadhar of $8, 951,000–property of the Princess Casino.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Inspector Henry testified in relation to his role in investigations in the matter.
The police witness recalled that on April 29, 2015 about 18:00 hrs, he contacted Griffith, who was in custody in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office at the Ruimveldt Police Station.
According to Inspector Henry, he identified himself to Griffith as a policeman in plainclothes. He said that he put an allegation of robbery under arms to Griffith who told him a story.
The court was told by Inspector Henry that the robbery accused elected to gave a statement. Griffith, Inspector Henry recounted, was cautioned in accordance with the judge’s rule in the presence of his reputed wife and another police officer. He added that Griffith elected him to write the statement after which he gave him to read.
According to the detective Henry, Griffith looked at the statement as though he was reading it and indicated that its contents were accurate before affixing his signature. The police witness added that he later took the statement to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, where it was lodged with the station sergeant for safe keeping.
However, Sergeant Henry was unable to tender the statement in court yesterday as he was unable to uplift it from the sergeant who, at the time of his visit, was not there.
According to police, four men arrived at the Ramada Hotel in a white motorcar bearing a fake number plate.
They were armed with guns and entered the Princess casino and discharged several rounds.
They relieved a security guard of his shotgun and ordered patrons and staffers to lie on the ground.
It was reported that the gunmen held a cashier at gunpoint and made off with local and foreign currency. Three of the alleged bandits reportedly escaped on foot, while police were able to apprehend Griffith since he was allegedly left behind in the casino.
However, Stuart was reportedly arrested in a house a few days after the robbery with a large quantity of wet money and other valuables. Blackman, a former security guard at the Casino allegedly provided the gunmen with vital information about the gambling spot’s operations. During the ordeal, Police Lance Corporal Andrew Richardson and four hotel staffers sustained gunshot wounds.

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