Five individuals charged with attempted murder, robbery, and firearm offenses related to the attempted robbery of the GECCU branch in South Rivers on Tuesday have been denied bail.
Defendants Remanded Until July 29
Senior Magistrate Colin John, presiding at the Serious Offences Court, remanded the accused — four men and one woman — until July 29 following the prosecution’s successful application. The accused are: Erasto Dasilva (33, bartender from Canouan), Lemar Isaacs (23, unemployed from McKies Hill), Esroy Jeffers (28, painter from Layou), Rakiesha Joseph (26, unemployed from Layou), and Sharome Dopwell (Paul’s Avenue).
Charges Faced by the Accused
On July 16, at South Rivers, the accused were charged with:
- Attempting to commit murder on Joron Samuel.
- Possession of an unlicensed Millennium G2 9mm pistol.
- Possession of eight rounds of 9mm ammunition without a license.
- Using a firearm to aid in committing robbery.
- Damaging property valued at EC$3,370 belonging to the General Employees Cooperative Credit Union.
- Robbing Charissa Pitt of Georgetown of personal items valued at EC$250 while armed with a gun.
Prosecution’s Argument for Denial of Bail
Prosecutor Inspector Renrick Cato opposed bail, citing the serious nature of the allegations and ongoing police investigations. He emphasized that only one firearm had been recovered, and there were concerns that the accused might hinder the investigation if released. Cato requested a remand to allow the police to conclude their investigation.
Defense’s Counterarguments
Defense attorney Connell, representing Dopwell, Isaacs, and Jeffers, along with the two unrepresented accused, argued for bail, stating that the prosecution’s request was illogical given the severity of the charges. Connell questioned the validity of the prosecution’s claims, suggesting the investigation should not be used to deny bail. He also highlighted the defendants’ need for medical attention and proposed stringent bail conditions, including surety, surrender of travel documents, reporting conditions, and a curfew.
Court’s Decision
Despite Connell’s arguments, Magistrate John denied bail but ordered that the injured defendants receive medical treatment. John assured that those requiring private medical care could be escorted by authorities to the necessary facilities.
Heavy Security Presence
The court proceedings attracted significant police presence and public attention, coinciding with appearances by two other individuals facing separate murder charges.
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