16-year-old remanded in connection with alleged ZR robbery

A 16-year-old charged with last week’s alleged robbery of a ZR driver has been remanded to Dodds for the next 28 days for his own protection and that of society.

Daniel Ezekiel Mason of Cane Vale Crescent No. 4, Christ Church appeared before Magistrate Joy-Ann Clarke in the St Matthias Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with robbing Marlon Tempo of US$11 (BDS$21.78) and BDS$10 on July 17.

Mason, who was represented by attorneys-at-law Simon Clarke, Ken Mason and Rasheed Belgrave, is further charged with brandishing a firearm while committing the indictable offence of robbery. 

Court prosecutor Sergeant Shane Chase asked that both matters be treated as joint as they derived from one set of facts.

But Clarke questioned why a simple charge for which the magistrate had jurisdiction was being done as indictable as his client only had one firearm charge levelled against him.

The defence attorney then asked for bail with respect to the robbery charge.

Sergeant Chase objected to bail on the grounds that a firearm was allegedly used in the commission of the offence and it has not been recovered by police, the seriousness of the offence, and the need to protect society.

“I believe that there should be a cool-off period. The matter has brought so much attention to society. It is also for his own protection . . . . We would still like that the two matters are kept together,” the prosecutor said.

However, Clarke replied that his client was a “fit and proper” candidate for bail on the robbery charge, even as he signalled the defence’s intentions to “go elsewhere” on the firearm charge. 

“He is a young man who just turned 16 years,” the attorney submitted, following which the magistrate ruled that “bail was off the table”.

“Bail is not granted,” Magistrate Clarke reiterated. “I am protecting society and protecting this young man.”

The defence lawyer then formally requested disclosure on the matter “because I am instructed that he has a solid/good defence to the charges before the court”.

The accused teen was remanded until August 22. ]]>