Pleaded guilty ’cause I was there’

DESPITE PLEADING GUILTY to taking a man’s money, a 29-year-old labourer was adamant he did not rob anybody, when he appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Levi Kemar Damian Bourne, of Concrete Alley, St Michael, was charged with robbing Glyne Catlyn of BDS$860 and US$150 – a total of $1 160 – on Sunday.

Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons told the court that Catlyn, 67, went to Duke’s Alley, Nelson Street, The City, where he gave a friend $100. He left there and was walking along King William Street, also in Nelson Street, when he felt a blow to the back of the head, which caused him to fall to the ground.

He looked up and saw Bourne who said: “Come pass the money, pass the money!”

Fearing for his life, the complainant handed over the money to Bourne, who was with another man. They both fled the scene.

Bourne was identified in a parade the next day, but the property was not recovered.

However, while admitting he was present when the incident occurred, he maintained he did not push down the man or rob him.

“I was on my way home. I was there but I did not rob the man or push him down,” he told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant.

“So why did you plead guilty?” asked the magistrate.

“Because I was there ma’am,” came the reply.

He was then remanded to HMP Dodds until December 29 when he will return for sentencing.

When he was informed he would be remanded, Bourne tried to bargain with the magistrate, saying he had his job to attend. However, this was to no avail. (RA)