PHILIPSBURG–Suspects Samuel Orville Smith (37) and Lawrence Polydor (33) were both sentenced to 24 months, six of which were suspended, on two years’ probation, for the attempted robbery of Coliseum Casino on August 9. Both defendants heard the Prosecutor demand thirty months’ imprisonment during Wednesday’s Court hearing.
Security guards at the Front Street casino alerted the police that two men dressed in dark clothing were spotted on the roof. One patrol saw a man fitting the description in Back Street. He took off running and was chased by an officer on foot.
Suspect Polydor was caught near Oranje School and was arrested on the spot. During a search, several items among which a fake firearm, a mask, gloves and a pillowcase were found in his possession.
Smith managed to escape from the casino and fled when the police attempted to arrest him at his home in Cay Hill two weeks later. He voluntarily turned himself in to the police on August 23.
Smith and Polydor were both taken in pre-trial detention. A third suspect, only identified as “Chris,” is still on the run.
Smith and Polydor both confessed to the crime. Polydor worked as a security guard at the casino and Smith was a former employee.
In preparation of the robbery they had made a hole in the casino roof on August 4. Two days later they manipulated the casino’s video-surveillance camera, but could not enter the casino because a door was closed. Two days later they made another attempt but were caught on the roof.
The Prosecutor considered both men guilty of attempted robbery or extortion and also found possession of two illegal firearms proven.
Defence lawyers Geert Hatzmann and Safira Ibrahim contested the Prosecutor’s analysis of this case and said that attempted robbery or extortion could not be proven as it had never become clear what intentions the men on the roof actually had.
In referring to the inhumane detention situation in Pointe Blanche prison Hatzmann pleaded with the Court to sentence his client equal to the time already spent in pre-trial detention.
The Judge, who found both defendants guilty as charged, said the bad state of Pointe Blanche prison put him in a “devilish dilemma.”
Recently, the Chief Prosecutor informed the Court of First Instance and the legal profession about the bad situation in prison, which means that only a limited number of detainees can be incarcerated.
“Since Irma nothing has happened about this,” said the Judge. “This indeed is a dilemma. Should I send people to Pointe Blanche? If I don’t, I would expose society to people who commit crimes.”
In minor cases, the Judge said, he would impose fines or community service. He said that in this case he would follow up on Hatzmann’s suggestion and lower the sentence somewhat, as it concerns an attempted crime committed by two first offenders who had confessed.
Ibrahim also pleaded with the Court for a milder sentence because Polydor was severely mistreated by an officer during his arrest, she claimed. Her client was beaten several times with a baton which had led to severe problems with his eyesight.
The Court acknowledged the sustained damage to the defendant’s eyesight. However, the Judge did not rule the violence disproportionate because this case involved an attempted robbery or burglary around midnight during which the suspect took off running and ignored police orders. “In a situation like this the use of a truncheon is not disproportionate,” the Judge stated.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83608-two-jailed-for-attempted-coliseum-casino-robbery
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