Magistrate to adjudicate on presenting no case
Men accused of trying to rob the Republic Bank…
Kaieteur News – Senior Magistrate Leron Daly is expected to adjudicate on the defense lawyers’ no-case submission for the four men accused of robbing Republic Bank in 2016.
The men involved in the botched robbery are: former Police Constable Anfernee Blackman, 21, of 65 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown; former Republic Bank employee, Shawn Grimmond, of 137 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown; Rural Constable, Gladston George, 24, of 55 Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown and Keron Saunders, 24, of 59 Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, Demerara East Bank.
The trial for the matter is being held at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, and all defendants were set on $ 500,000 bail each, pending the outcome of the case.
Last month, the prosecution closed its case and in response defense attorneys made their no-case submission, in which they said the prosecution had failed to present a case against their clients.
With both sides presenting their arguments, Senior Magistrate Daly adjourned the matter and set April 14, 2021, for the ruling on the no-case submissions. Kaieteur News had reported that, at the defendants’ first court appearance, they had denied the accusation, and noted that they had attempted to rob Georgetown’s branch, State Bank, on July 4, 2016, while being armed with guns.
The botched robbery attempt on the financial institution had left 25-year-old agronomist Elton Wray dead. He was shot and killed during an gun exchange between his alleged aides, police, and guards attached to the Professional Guard Service (PGS).
According to reports, Wray was the best friend of Jamal Haynes, a former Republican Bank employee. At the first appearance of the Haynes court, he admitted the charge and was sentenced to a total of 10 years on charges of attempted armed robbery; illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and unlawful restraint.
According to reports, on the day in question, around 07:30 o’clock, a report was made to the police of an impending theft at the bank. The ranks responded promptly. When they arrived at the scene, the alleged offenders released several rounds to their address.
In an attempt to escape, Haynes apparently started running through the arcade, but was later apprehended by police during a gun exchange. He was found hiding in a stall in the arcade. The facts of the accusation revealed that the illegal gun and ammunition were found lying on the ground beside him. Seconds after Haynes was arrested, Saunders, a cousin of Wray, was apprehended by police, after he was observed acting suspiciously. Haynes and Saunders then connected the others in the attempted robbery of the financial institution.