An amputee shop owner was today remanded for armed robbery. Dennis Johnson, 23, a shop-owner, was before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was remanded after he denied robbing a man of his motorcar and cellphone.
It is alleged that on May 20, at Caneview Avenue, Georgetown, while in the company of another, and armed with a knife, he robbed Alwyn DaSilva of motor car HC8838 valued $3, 600,000 and a cellphone valued $4,000.
When addressing the courtroom, Johnson said that he was arrested while at home and taken to the Criminal Investigations Department by CID ranks. Before being transported to the Brickdam Police Station, he was placed on an identification parade for another allegation. Subsequently, he was told to leave after paying $10,000 station bail. While making arrangements to pay, he saw DaSilva at the front desk at the station.
He said that several moments after, he was recalled upstairs and placed on another identification parade. This time the complainant in this matter said that he (Johnson) had stolen the car and phone from him (DaSilva).
Johnson claims that he has never seen the man before. He then pleaded with the man to “stop lying on him”. He further said he couldn’t possibly steal from the man as he only had one leg and added that the only illegal activities he is involved in is selling small amounts of narcotics. Johnson also told the court that he was previously charged with possession of firearm and robbery but these matters were dismissed.
The Prosecutor told the court that on the day in question, the complainant was dropping Johnson off at the location when Johnson allegedly pulled out a knife and held it to the man’s neck, on arrival. The items mentioned above were taken and the virtual complainant made a report of the matter to the police. The car was later recovered but no one was arrested until Johnson was seen at the police station, on June 4, when the virtual complainant was at the station for another matter. The prosecutor said that the man indicated to the police that Johnson had been the perpetrator involved in the matter which he had previously reported.
The matter was adjourned until June 18.
