Suspect admits to being at crime scene

A PORT-OF-SPAIN man, who had pleaded not guilty to robbing four employees of a travel agency of over $14,000 worth of cash and jewelry, had allegedly admitted to being at the scene of the crime on the day of the robbery. WP Cpl Jemma Philbert Stewart of the Port-of-Spain CID said Marvin Warner had admitted this when he surrendered to the police a few days after the robbery.

Stewart was giving evidence in the Port-of-Spain Second Court against 30-year-old Warner of Siparia Hill, East Dry River. Warner is before Madame Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon charged with four counts of robbing Phillip Spencer, manager of Travel House Ltd, assistant manager Francis Lewis, secretary Judy Mitchell and travel consultant Michelle Ford at the agency’s Edward Street office in Port-of-Spain, on the morning of November 22, 1996. Two of Warner’s alleged cohorts were apprehended on that same day.

According to Stewart, Warner walked into the Port-of-Spain CID some time before noon on November 28, and told her he had heard the police were looking for him relative to the robbery. She said after speaking with him for a while, she told him of her intention to put him on an identification parade and he had no objections. According to Stewart, he then admitted that he had been at Travel House Ltd on the day in question. She said she subsequently arrested and charged him with the robbery.  A search of his home was conducted later that day, but none of the stolen cash or jewelry was found.  

Under cross-examination by Warner’s attorney Horace Broomes, Stewart maintained that the accused had admitted to his being at the agency on the day of the robbery.  However, she said she did not get that admission in writing. Following Stewart’s evidence, the State, represented by attorneys Angelica Teelucksingh and Debbie Ann Bassaw, closed its case. The defence is expected to call its first witness today. Warner, who had been absent from court on Friday, yesterday told the judge he was not there because his “belly was hurting.” He said his attempts to contact the court had been futile. The court had on Friday waited until 11.30 am for him to show up.