Alleged arcade burglar remanded to prison

A 35-year-old man who is said to have no fixed place of abode will be housed at the remand section of Dodds Prison, at least until next month, in connection with three break-ins at an arcade.

Ricardo Rohan Gill appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes on Thursday, accused of making off with over $67 000 when he burglarised the Lucky Games Arcade earlier this year while armed with a gun.

It is alleged that he entered the establishment as a trespasser and stole $12 871 cash on January 24, $19 679 on March 20, and $34 528 on April 20.

The charges are indictable and, as such, the accused could not enter pleas before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

Sergeant Randolph Boyce, who represented the State in the matter, objected to Gill being granted bail at this time on the grounds that he had no fixed place of abode, as well as the nature and seriousness of the offences.

The prosecutor also argued that there was a need to protect society from his alleged actions and pointed to the strength of the evidence against the accused.

But Gill’s defence counsel, Shadia Simpson, countered the submissions telling the court that the prosecution’s evidence against her client was “extremely weak”. She argued that there was evidence that Gill left the arcade before the robbery occurred.

On the prosecution’s objection that society needed to be protected, the attorney argued that there was nothing to “support or demonstrate” that her client had a propensity to commit such offences and, therefore, he “should not be deprived of his liberty unless there are substantial grounds”.

“There is nothing before the court that shows he committed these offences, and under the law one is innocent until proven guilty,” Simpson added.

She said based on her instructions, there was a co-accused who had been granted bail on the matter, adding that her client was willing to adhere to any bail conditions the court imposed.

In considering the submissions of both sides, Chief Magistrate Weekes told the defence those were some “major allegations” being made over a period of time.

“His name is being called for three serious matters between January and April,” Weekes said as he remanded Gill until June 10.