Today before a city magistrate, two men walked free while a third was ordered to lead a defence for a series of charges, including possession of illegal firearm and ammunition and armed robbery.
The three men – Casey Chapman, 27, a taxi driver, of 77 South Sophia; Sheldon Andrews, 24, also a taxi driver, of 306 West Ruimveldt; and Adam McDonald, 30, a block maker of Amelia’s Ward Linden – were arrested last November after allegedly trailing a businesswoman from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport and robbing her of a package before shooting at her vehicle.
Chapman was this afternoon informed by Magistrate Rondel Weever that he will have to lead a defence in the matter on June 26, 2019. Magistrate Weever is also expected to rule in the matter the same day.
However, Andrews and McDonald walked out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts free men after the Magistrate ruled that insufficient evidence was led against them by the prosecution.
Today when the matter was called, the magistrate said that based on the witnesses’ evidence, Andrews and McDonald were not in the vehicle when police arrived on the scene.
However, she noted that Chapman was positively identified by the victim as the person who robbed her.
The first allegation against the three men stated that on November 26, 2018, at High and Princes Streets, while being in the company of each other, they had in their possession one .32 Taurus pistol without being holders of firearm licences.
The second charge stated that on the same day and at the same location, the men had in their possession one 9 mm Glock pistol without being holders of firearm licences.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, they had in their possession 12 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition without being holders of firearm licences.
The last charge against the men stated that on the same day and at the same location, they had in their possession seven .32 ammunition when they were not licensed firearm holders.
It was further alleged that Chapman on July 5, 2017, at Grove, Access Road, East Bank Demerara, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, robbed Marcia Maria Martin of a cellular phone worth $70,000, four ounces of raw gold worth $600,000, some $700,000 in cash, and other articles totalling $1.4M. The stolen items were the property of Martin.
They had all denied the allegations on their first court appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
According to information, on November 26, 2018, police received information that three men were in a vehicle trailing a businesswoman from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle. As a result, roadblocks were set up.
The court heard that ranks from the Ruimveldt Police Station were on the lookout at High and Princes Streets when they observed three men sitting in a vehicle. The men were reportedly acting suspiciously.
The ranks then approached the vehicle where they identified themselves as officers. A search was conducted in the vehicle and they found the articles mentioned in the charges. The men were all arrested and taken into custody.
In relation to the robbery matter involving Chapman, the prosecutor told the court that an identification parade was held and Chapman was positively identified by the victim.
