Accused told police he knew nothing about burglary but gave ride to four men

One of the men accused in the 2018 aggravated burglary at a restaurant told the police that while he gave four men a ride to and from a spot near the establishment, he had not been privy to any of their plans.

Jabarry Stefan Roach and Kemaro O’Neil Harris both of Block 4H, Rock Close, Wildey, St Michael and Pierre Ramon Belle of Block 6G, Field Road, also in Wildey, are accused of entering Chutney’s and RB’s Rotisserie on July 20, 2018, and stealing $4 942.10 belonging to ESC Incorporated; a $ 2 000 cell phone and $30 case belonging to Persuadia Powlett; and a $1 200 cell phone belonging to D’Andrea Burrowes. It is alleged that they had a firearm, knife, and a box cutter at the time.

Giving evidence in the No. 5 Supreme Court before a nine-member jury, Station Sergeant Sinclair Phillips, the lead investigator in Belle’s case, read from the November 29, 2021 statement of the then 27-year-old accused, who told the police, “I didn’t know where dem was going when I give dem de drop.”

Belle recalled going to Brittons Hill, St Michael and when he was heading back home, someone the witness referred to as ‘Z’ flagged him down and asked for a drop to Flagstaff to “check a little scene”. After Belle agreed, ‘Z’ got in the front seat and three other men got in the back.

He put them off by a gap near the old brewery, and ‘Z’ said, “you might got to come back for me’”. Belle drove off and went back on the block before going over by his girlfriend and 25 minutes later, received a call from ‘X’, telling him  “‘Z’ say to pick him back up”. After he did so, while driving towards the past Sanitation [Service Authority], he heard one of the men in the back seat say, ‘That was an easy bread. That was a walk in the park.’ He dropped them off and went home. The next morning, he heard that the restaurant had been robbed and asked ‘X’ about it, but he only “skin he mout”.

“Nobody tell me nothing about this robbery. Them ain’t give me nothing out of what they get,” Belle told police.

He said he only knew ‘Z’ and had never seen the other men before but would be able to recognise two of them.

Sergeant Phillips testified that after giving the statement, he directed the police to Ifill Road in Flagstaff, St Michael, and showed them where he dropped off and picked up the men.

During cross-examination by Belle’s attorney Shadia Simpson, the officer testified that Belle had walked into the police station of his own will and made the statement. He also said none of the weapons recovered were found at the accused’s home.

Earlier in the proceedings, Sergeant Troy Waithe told the court that while the police had watched the video of the incident at the establishment, no copies had been made as there were no identifying features that could be used to place the robbers since all wore masks.

Principal State Counsel Olivia Davis and State Counsel Eleazar Williams are prosecuting while attorneys Kevin Miller and Corey Beckles are representing Harris and Roach, respectively.

The trial resumes on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.