PHILIPSBURG–Two armed robbers heard the Judge in the Court of First Instance on Wednesday pronounce prison sentences of eight and seven years against them. A third suspect was sentenced in an unrelated case to thirty months.
Clifford Nathaniel Noel (23) was jailed for eight years for having committed armed robbery at Ahui supermarket on A.Th. Illidge Road on March 17, during which some US $400 and several phone cards were taken at gunpoint.
Two days later, he used the same method to take $200-250 and telephone cards from Wing Da supermarket on Nazareth Road. Noel once again “visited” Wing Da on March 28 and made away with $200 and telephone cards.
The defendant was also found guilty of being the chauffeur of two persons who were planning to commit theft at Carrefour supermarket on March 12, and of illegal firearm possession in the period of March 17-19.
Noel was sentenced on May 25, 2016, to 180 days, 157 days of which were suspended, on three years’ probation. As the new crimes were committed during the probation period, the Prosecutor requested execution of the pending sentence of 157 days, which request was granted by the Court.
Shyiem Juirhon Capleton Simmonds (21) was sentenced to seven years on similar charges. The Court found him guilty of theft with violence during which he stole $300 and two mobile phones at Victory minimarket in Madame Estate on March 28.
That same day, he committed armed robbery at Ahui supermarket during which he took $300 in cash and four telephone cards, and took some $200 and phone cards from Wing Da supermarket. He was also convicted of the possession of an illegal firearm with ammunition.
Simmonds denied involvement in any of the robberies, but the Court established that the three robberies were committed by one and the same armed person, wearing the same mask, the same black shoes with white soles, the same dark shirt with a white label and carrying the same firearm. During all these robberies the suspect had the same black bag in his hand.
Simmonds claimed during the August-30 court hearing that he had been smoking close to the Middle Region supermarket and a man had run past him with a bag. He told the Judge the bag had dropped and he had been curious and had grabbed it. Police officers saw him with the bag and arrested him on the spot.
However, the supermarket owners had a different story. They recognised Simmonds because he worked at Sunny Foods supermarket as a grocery boy.
Hector Bienvenido Gonzalez Ramirez (33) was sentenced to 30 months for involvement in the planning of an armed robbery at Paradise Casino on Welfare Road on July 12, 2016. The Prosecutor’s Office had called for a prison sentence of three years, but the defendant’s lawyer had pleaded for acquittal.
The planned robbery fell through, as the two would-be robbers were confronted with security guards at the casino entrance and left the scene.
A black Kia Picanto in which the two were driving was found later at Barringtonia Drive. Ramirez’s DNA was found on the car’s steering wheel and dashboard.
According to the defendant, the DNA was planted in the car by a police officer who had a grudge against him, but the Court did not find any credibility in this story.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/71395-armed-robbers-sentenced-to-eight-and-seven-years-in-jail
View comments
Hide comments