Man admits to being involved in 2015 robbery at Monsta Grill

A man involved in a robbery at Monsta Grill almost seven years ago has pleaded guilty to the crime.

Standing in the dock of the No. 3 Supreme Court before Justice Carlisle Greaves and a nine-member jury, Damien Shavaine Proverbs, of Parish Land, Christ Church pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery committed on June 18, 2015.

He admitted to robbing Elvis Graham, the operator of the bar and restaurant, of $6 800 cash, two cellular phones, an earring, a chain, and a ring with a total approximate value of $9 600.

Proverbs also pleaded guilty to robbing the establishment’s three employees – Taja Neblett of a cellular phone and $10 cash, with a total  value of $510; Zariena Khan of a cellular phone, a chain and $105 cash, totaling approximately $1 905; and Andrew Maloney of a cellular phone and $20 cash with a total value of approximately $320.

Joel Omar Hunte and Nathaniel Renaldo Robinson, also of Parish Land, Christ Church had pleaded guilty to the charges on Wednesday.

Senior Crown Counsel Neville Watson, who is representing the State along with Acting Senior Crown Counsel Rudolph Burnett, outlined the facts with respect to Proverbs on Thursday morning.

He said that Monsta Grill, located along the ABC Highway near the Garfield Sobers roundabout, operates from 3 p.m. to midnight with Wednesdays being the busiest day.

On the evening of June 17, 2015, Graham opened his business as usual, along with his three employees, Khan, Maloney and Neblett. As they closed around midnight, they were accosted by four masked men who robbed them at gunpoint.

One of the men who is not before the court, hit Graham with the butt of a gun, causing him to fall to the ground. That same man then proceeded to shoot the businessman in the leg and thigh while the others continued the robbery.

During police investigations, some items were found at Proverbs’ residence in his bedroom. Warrants were also executed at the residences of the other men. None of the money was recovered.

Based on the probe, the gunman who attacked Graham, according to Watson, “strongly suggested” that he was the shooter during the commission of the crime.

While in custody, the men each gave a written confession outlining his individual part in the criminal enterprise.

Following those brief facts, Justice Greaves gave the jury, which had been empanelled to hear the evidence, formal direction to return a guilty verdict for Proverbs on each of the four counts.

A presentencing report has been ordered on his life in preparation for sentencing on May 18.

His antecedents and custody records, if any, as well as submissions in writing by the prosecution and defence should be submitted to the court by then.

Proverbs is being represented by attorney-at-law Michael Lashley Q.C.