Burglary accused change plea

Two of three men set to go on trial for aggravated burglary had a change of heart on Tuesday – a day after a jury was empanelled to hear evidence in their case – and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

When the matter was called before the No. 3 Supreme Court, today, Shacquille Rashawn Forde, of 1st Avenue Crystal Crescent, Kingsland Terrace, Christ Church, and Silver Hill, Christ Church residents Shamoah Shakur Waldrond and Akeem Ricardo Griffith, also of Silver Hill, pleaded not guilty to entering J’s Variety as trespassers on December 31, 2016 and stealing a cash register and $1 500 cash – total value $3 500 – belonging to Anthony Jordan. They allegedly had with them a firearm and a sword at the time of the crime.

However, Forde and Waldrond pleaded guilty to simple burglary.

Explaining the development to the nine jurors who were eventually discharged, Justice Carlisle Greaves said that Forde and Waldron were saying that while they did commit the burglary, they were not knowing participants with the weapons.

Senior State Counsel Neville Watson, who accepted the guilty pleas of the two men, is to send his written submissions on sentencing to the judge on July 20.

Pre-sentencing reports, a report of the time the duo spent on remand, as well as a report on their antecedents, if any, will also be submitted to the court on that day before the judge hands down his judgment.

Forde and Walrond remain on bail.