Santa Flora man jailed 15 years for robbery

A 32-YEAR-old Santa Flora man was yesterday jailed by a High Court Judge for a total of 15 years for robbery and burglary. Justice Anthony Carmona ordered Gary Williams to serve the full term of imprisonment on two charges. Williams, also known as “Daddy G,” of Los Bajos, was found guilty without the jury retiring to consider a verdict in the case at the San Fernando High Court. Justice Carmona remarked that the convincing and abundant evidence against Williams was reflected in the promptness in which the jury returned the verdict. On June 20 2002, Williams broke into the Los Bajos home of mini-mart owner Robert Ottley. He robbed and chopped Ottley. The State led evidence that Ottley awoke around 10.30 pm to a crashing sound in his house and saw Williams in his bedroom. Armed with a cutlass, Williams demanded money. Ottley testified that he began to struggle with Williams causing him to receive chop wounds to the head. Ottley testified that he handed over the day’s sales from his mini-mart, which consisted of $100 in single dollars, and $100 in $5 bills. Williams then escaped through a window.

The jury heard that Williams was arrested two days later by Cpl Harrilal Jaikaran and on being cautioned, he replied, “Boss I sorry for what I do. I frustrated.” Williams was charged with burglary and robbery. The State’s case was presented by State attorney Alexander Prince, while Williams was defended by attorney Stedson Jack. Prince described Williams as a “pathological offender” who had previous offences of larceny, malicious damage and wounding with intent. Justice Carmona told Williams it was the court’s duty “to protect society from parasites like you, who prefer to rob and steal instead of going to work.” The judge added, “The victims work some 15 hours a day and you attempted to destroy them in two venomous minutes of savagery.” In passing sentence, Carmona sentenced Williams to ten years for robbery and imposed a five-year sentence for burglary. The judge ordered the sentences run consecutively.