One of the men captured in a widely circulated video robbing an elderly woman of her jewellery in broad daylight has been remanded to Dodds Prison after pleading guilty to that offence and another robbery.
Appearing in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court before Magistrate Alison Burke on Wednesday afternoon, 19-year-old Akiel Curwan Forde of Bellevue, Waterford, St Michael, admitted that on December 7, 2023, he robbed Elizabeth Bradshaw of one chain valued at $445.71, two bracelets valued at $975.70 and two bangles valued at $500 – a total value of $1 911.41.
He also pleaded guilty to robbing Caulbert Walker of two rings valued at $675, on December 5.
Constable Ralph Rollock told the court that in the December 7 matter, the complainant had just left the National Insurance building and was on Culloden Road, St Michael when the accused and another man passed by and spoke to her cordially before grabbing at her jewellery. She and Forde struggled before he got the items and ran off.
Police who were in the area pursued the two men and apprehended Forde. The other man escaped and remains at large.
In the other matter, Walker was in the area of Bank Hall, St Michael, awaiting a bus, when the accused and another man passed by and snatched his rings after a brief struggle.
Objecting to bail, Constable Rollock highlighted the nature and seriousness of the offence, the need to protect society and the possibility of interference in the investigation regarding the co-accused who is not yet in custody.
Representing Forde, defence lawyer Shadia Simpson requested a pre-sentence report, which was granted.
Forde returns to court on January 10, 2024, for sentencing.
