Four youths remanded on robbery charges

A Bridgetown magistrate has remanded three teenagers and a man in his 20s in custody after citing rising youth violence and public safety concerns, following their appearance on a joint robbery charge in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court No. 1.

Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick said: “The new Bail Act allows me to take into consideration the trends in our society, and at present the violence in our society is reaching a very serious high, and it is emanating from young persons, and the courts are very concerned about that. 

“We have to be concerned about public safety and, of course, your own protection and for those reasons, I am going to remand you into custody, and I will urge the prosecution to produce the file in this matter as quickly as possible.”

He made the comments to Shaquan Ricardo Cain, 18, of Bairds Road, Lower Carlton, St James; Isaac Leon Stewart, 18, of Lower Carlton, Chapel Gap, St James; Kyan Rashad Jordan, 24, of Rock Hall, St Andrew; and a male juvenile, after they were read the charge that on March 27, they robbed a male of jewellery valued at $750 in the Holetown jurisdiction.

Cain is solely accused of having an unlicensed firearm and two rounds of ammunition, and of robbing Troy Selman of jewellery, a cell phone and other property totalling $4 830 in the District ‘A’ jurisdiction on April 6.

He and Jordan are also jointly charged with the use of a firearm and robbing Trudy Mayers of a car and belongings totalling $35 007.05 on April 5, in the District B jurisdiction.

All of the offences are indictable.

Objecting to the accused being released on bail, prosecutor Sergeant Victoria Leacock stated, in relation to the March 27 joint robbery charge, that the 15-year-old complainant was allegedly struck in the face with a gun, that there was a need to protect society, as the complainant had been walking along the road when the alleged incident occurred, and the level of sophistication used to commit the offence.

Attorney Ensley Grainger, who represented the 17-year-old juvenile, cited that the male had no previous convictions, was not considered a flight risk, that he was on a single charge of robbery, and there was no evidence he would interfere with witnesses.

Taking a similar approach, defence attorney Rachel Ward, who represents Stewart in association with counsel Shadia Simpson, argued that her client had a fixed place of abode, was gainfully employed and that the robbery charge did not reflect any use of a firearm and therefore the prosecution’s argument of violence could not apply to him.

Jordan’s attorney was Dave Porter, while Cain was unrepresented.

Chief Magistrate Frederick remanded the four to Dodds Prison and transferred the District B and Holetown matters to their respective magistrates’ courts for May 4 and May 11, respectively. The District A case continues on May 7.

(JB)