60 months jail for Fish Vendor found guilty of armed robbery

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Othello Duncan, a fish vendor of Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara was sentenced to 60 months in jail on Thursday, Jnauary 15 by City Magistrate Judy Latchman after he was found guilty of robbery under arms.

The particulars of the case stated that on July 25, 2013 at the Meadow Bank Wharf, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Hayman Handit of $316,000 in cash.

According to the Prosecution’s case, on the day in question around 10:30 hrs, the Virtual Complainant (VC) was at Meadow Bank, when the defendant and another approached him.

Duncan placed a firearm to the victim’s head and demanded that he hand over his money while his accomplice, ‘Chippy,’ reportedly cut the man’s pocket and the cash fell.

According to Inspector Shellon Daniels, who prosecuted, they picked up the cash and fled the scene. The ordeal lasted for about five minutes and Duncan managed to evade the clutches of the police until November 8, 2014 when he was caught.

Magistrate Latchman said that the conviction was based on the strength of the Prosecution’s case. She recapped several pieces of evidence and stated that she did not believe the accused when he denied committing the crime. He was found guilty as charged.

Attorney-at-Law Melville Duke, who represented Duncan, said that he is a father of two who works tirelessly to provide for his family. According to him, Duncan had been employed at the Fishery for the past 13 years and had never been charged before.

He asked the court to be lenient in sentencing.

In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Latchman stated that she considered the mitigating factors as well as the fact that Duncan had been incarcerated for two months. She considered too that a gun was used in the commission of the crime and the prevalence of armed robberies.

His lawyer gave oral notice of his intentions to appeal the sentence.