114 years jail for 3 armed robbers

Justice Alice Yorke Soo Hon in passing sentence on Chet Sutton, 28; Anderson Trim, 23; and Jason Jackman, 26, said it was the duty of the court to protect society.

Justice Soo Hon said, "Fear and terror now grip citizens because of those who commit acts of brutality on law abiding citizens. The court has the duty to protect them from this kind of terror." The State’s case, as presented by State attorney Angelica Teelucksingh, was that on November 7, 2000, Sutton, Trim, and Jackman, together with another man, armed themselves with guns and cutlasses and stormed Mansingh’s Bar at Old Siparia Main Road, Avocat Village. A nine-member jury heard that the accused men robbed the bartender and patrons of over $4,000 in cash, jewelry and other items. They also beat their victims before making good their escape in a car.

Sutton, Trim and Jackman went on trial before Justice Soo Hon in the San Fernando Second Assizes.

According to the State’s case, Sutton was the "mastermind" of the plot. Trim was the "gunman" and Jackman, according to the State, was the driver of the getaway car.

The court heard that the three, together with another man, were arrested by a police team on the very night of the robbery. They were positively identified by their victims.

Yesterday, the guilty verdicts came after the jury deliberated for almost two hours. The judge took two days to sum up the case.

Justice Soo Hon ordered Sutton, Trim and Jackman to serve eight years each on two counts of robbery with aggravation. The three were then ordered by Justice Soo Hon to each serve ten years on each of two counts of robbery with violence. The charge was for beating the bar owner’s elderly relative, Meena Mansingh, and bar patron Williams Hackett Jaikaran with the flat side of a cutlass.

Justice Soo Hon slapped Trim with an additional three years on each charge for possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. The three men, who pleaded not guilty, claimed they were innocent of the crimes.