Bandit tried to escape in taxi

MANAGER of a travel agency yesterday recalled how he captured one of the three men who had earlier robbed him and his co-workers of cash and jewelry. Phillip Spencer was giving evidence in the Port-of-Spain Second Court against the man who had allegedly robbed him of his gold ID band, three gold chains, two gold rings and $633 in cash. Marvin Warner, 30, of Siparia Hill, East Dry River, is before Madame Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon charged with four counts of robbing Spencer, assistant manager Francis Lewis, secretary Judy Mitchell and travel consultant Michelle Ford at Travel House Ltd’s Edward Street office in Port-of-Spain, on the morning of November 22, 1996. Spencer told the court that after the men entered the office and robbed them and Warner had hit him (Spencer) twice on the side of his head with a gun butt, they left and stood downstairs for about three minutes.

There was a fourth man waiting outside on a bicycle, he said. He said he opened the door and shouted, “Thief, thief,” causing the men to scamper off. The fourth man, Spencer said, rode up Edward Street and the other three ran down the same street. He said he ran after the three on foot. When they got to Strand Cinema, Spencer said, one of the men ran down Richmond Street, while Warner and the other man got into a nearby taxi. He shouted at the taxi driver that the men were thieves and the driver stopped the car. He said Warner got out and ran east along Tragarete Road. When the other man attempted to get out of the taxi, Spencer said, he (Spencer) grabbed him and a struggle ensued.

“I had him in a lock and wasn’t going to let him go,” the manager said. Spencer said he saw two police officers approaching and he explained to them what had happened. The man was taken into custody and he (Spencer) went in search of Warner because “he had my money and jewelry.” He did not locate the accused and returned to the office,  Spencer said. The agency’s messenger, Anthony Brown, had been outside during the robbery, Spencer said, and had chased after the man on the bicycle. Lewis also testified that one of the men had taken his watch and his wedding ring. Warner is represented by attorney Horace Broomes and State attorney Angelica Teelucksingh is prosecuting. Hearing resumes today.