Court affirms 8-year sentence for robbery

The Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed an eight-year sentence imposed on a bandit who shot and robbed a customer in a restaurant at Erin Road, Debe in 1999. The court also ordered that the eight-year sentence with hard labour imposed on Renrick Gaskin by Justice Malcolm Holdip on July 24, 2003, start yesterday. Gaskin appealed his sentence but his attorney Christine Moore sought the court’s leave to withdraw the appeal yesterday, stating that she had not found any sustainable ground of appeal. The court, comprising Justices Lionel Jones, Stanley John and Ivor Archie, then enquired from Gaskin, who was present in court, whether he understood what his attorney was saying. Gaskin eventually said he did and accepted Moore’s findings. The State was represented by former Assistant DPP Devan Rampersad.

The facts of the case were that on March 27, 1999 at  about 10 pm,  Ishwar Bholai and Ralph Ramdeo were at Dip’s Restaurant and Bar at Erin Road in Debe. Ramdeo was in the bar purchasing food. His Mitsubishi Lancer car valued $110,000 was parked outside. While the barman was handing Ramdeo his order, Gaskin and another man walked into the bar. Bholai was paying his bill at the counter when Gaskin demanded: “Where is the money, where is the money?” Gaskin then removed $1,700 from Bholai’s left back pocket before shooting him in the right leg.

Ramdeo heard the explosion and left the bar in the direction of his vehicle. When he got to his car, he saw that Gaskin’s accomplice had followed him to the vehicle. The man then ordered Ramdeo to “pass the f...ing key.” He complied, but the car was equipped with an immobilising system and would not start. The assailant then demanded: “You better start the f...ing car because that guy don’t make joke.” Ramdeo complied. Gaskin and his accomplice then drove away. Gaskin was pointed out at an identification parade and later charged by PC Ifill.