Women in court for stealing

The women, Shenell Ali, 21, and Nnika Forde, 35, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted $75,000 bail while the accused man, Eric Latroy, entered a guilty plea. He was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour by Senior Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle presiding in the Princes Town First Magistrates Court.

The charges read to the trio by the magistrate alleged that between the period October 21 to 31, they broke into the dwelling house of a woman and stole several electronic appliances, jewelry and grocery items. Court prosecutor Sgt Roger Richardson told the court that on October 21, the owner of the house in Princes Town secured her home and went away. The court heard that on October 23, the owner was informed by a neighbour that her house was broken into.

Sgt Richardson said that police officers were contacted and Latroy attempted to escape but was detained minutes later in the Princes Town district. Two other persons were allegedly detained inside the victim’s house. The trio were charged with house-breaking and larceny of items together valued $37,950. An additional charge was read to Latroy for possession of one gramme of cocaine which was found inside his pants pocket upon his arrest.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

The magistrate also heard that the accused man had 11 previous convictions within the last 15 years. Some of his convictions include housebreakings, larceny, and drug possession.

Attorney Petronilla Basdeo, who represented the accused women, said that Ali was an outpatient of the Princes Town Psychiatric Clinic.

The attorney said that in 2014, Ali had also spent time at the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital.

Busby Earle-Caddle granted the women bail in the sum of $75,000 each to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace.

Latroy was sentenced to three years with hard labour in prison on the charges of housebreaking and larceny. On the charge of possession of cocaine, Latroy was sentenced to nine months in prison. The magistrate ordered that the sentences run concurrently.