Jamaican admits responsibility for burglaries but only one plea taken

Jamaican national Rennord Augustus Rose admitted to burglary when he faced the court on two charges on Tuesday.

And while he pleaded guilty to one in the Magistrates’ Court, he served notice that he intended to admit his guilt before the High Court on the other, and, as such, wished the matter to be expedited.

He could not enter a plea in the latter matter as it is indictable and must therefore be heard before a judge and jury.

Rose, who resides at Coral Land, Haggatt Hall, St Michael, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Kim Butcher to entering the house of Geraldine Harewood as a trespasser between October 12, 2021, and May 17 this year and stealing a Bluetooth speaker, a watch, two bangles, a cellular phone, four chains, a foot chain, a laptop, four rings, two pendants, three pairs of earrings and four bracelets, at a total value of $8 745.

Station Sergeant Crishna Graham told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that the owner of the house resides overseas but left a caretaker in charge of her three-storey home.

On May 17, the caretaker made a check of the residence and discovered the interior ransacked and the property missing.

The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to a pawn shop where Rose returned on May 30 after he discovered an error on one of the cheques given to him. He was arrested and charged.

A presentencing report which has been ordered in preparation for sentencing is expected on July 19.

In the meantime, Rose is on remand at Dodds until July 5 after the prosecutor objected to granting him bail on the second charge – that he, on April 21, 2022, entered the house of Dinielle Samlal as a trespasser and stole a purse, a driver’s licence, and $40 belonging to Samlal, as well as a laptop, a cellular phone, three rings and a pair of ear pods valued at $795, belonging to Reshma Lalgee, and at the time of the crime had with him a knife.

Station Sergeant Graham objected to bail based on the nature and seriousness of the allegation. The prosecutor also pointed to the strength of the evidence against Rose as well as the need to protect society.

Asked whether he had anything to say in relation to bail, Rose replied “no”.

However attorney-at-law Neville Reid, after speaking to the accused, told the court that Rose indicated that he intended to plead guilty to the aggravated burglary charge before the High Court.

“He has very limited resources . . . and was doing odd jobs and construction work,” Reid informed the magistrate.