Armed burglar to learn punishment next week

Armed burglar Osbourne Delano Mings is expected to know his fate in a week when Justice Carlisle Greaves sentences him.

On Friday, the court heard the details of how he committed two counts of aggravated burglary on October 13, 2020.

Mings, a resident of Rock Hall, St Thomas, previously pleaded guilty before the No. 3 Supreme Court to entering Roy Smith Minimart armed with a firearm and stealing a cash register, $500 cash, and 11 bottles of liquor. The items were worth $2 061.30.

He also admitted that when he entered the establishment with the

gun on that date, he stole a $500 cellular phone belonging to Horace Mitchell.

Senior State Counsel Neville Watson, reading the facts, disclosed that Mitchell was on duty at the minimart located at Ealing Grove, Christ Church when two men entered with their faces partially covered.

One culprit was carrying a handgun and pointed it at him, demanding he open the cash register and hand over the money.  Mitchell responded, “Take the whole thing.”

While the other man took up the cash register from the counter and made his way outside, Mings jumped over the counter and filled a box with an assortment of liquor bottles. When he went back over the glass counter, he broke it and fell in before fleeing the scene.

Investigations commenced into the incident. On October 26, 2020, Mings was questioned at the Oistins Police Station in connection with the matter.

He was told of his rights and he replied, “I straight. I ain’t want no lawyer . . . . I good, Sir, I ain’t want no lawyer.”

The convicted man was told of the report.

“It’s me . . . that rob the supermarket on the 13th,” he told police at the time.

Mings was shown video footage from the establishment and he identified himself as the person wearing a red shirt on his head.

He did not give up the name of his accomplice but told police that the money that was stolen “was split two different ways and I spent mine”.  

Asked what he spent the money on, Mings said food and groceries for his daughter.

During the police investigations, the complainant, in Ming’s presence, identified the cash register that was stolen.

“Sir, to be honest with you, things was rough that day. I didn’t know what get in my head but I am sorry for robbing you,” the convict told Mitchell.

According to the police records, Mings, who is represented by attorney-at-law Angela Mitchell-Gittens, has 15 previous convictions, including for possession of an illegal firearm, possession of ammunition, burglary, robbery, theft, possession of cannabis and causing bodily injury by dangerous driving.

His matter will continue on April 21 when the lawyers will make submissions on sentencing before Justice Greaves imposes Mings’ punishment.