Alleged 'Blackie' lieutenant secures Defence Counsel
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Mr Nigel Hughes yesterday changed his status from friend of the Court and formally entered appearance for Andrew Peter Douglas, alleged lieutenant of slain bandit Lindon London called `Blackie'. Defence Counsel made the switch at the continuation of the preliminary inquiry (PI) into charges that followed the robbery last September at Didco Trading Company Limited, Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown. Douglas also known as Todd Dexter called `Fine Man', of Lot 32 Friendship Middle Walk, East Coast Demerara, was officially unrepresented by counsel up to yesterday although Hughes had previously spoken on his behalf in the other capacity. Douglas, Toyin Anderson, of Lot 42 Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, Omali Rogers, of Lot 83 Woodpecker Lane, Amelia's Ward, Linden and Sherwin Brandt, of Lot 15 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, are charged with robbing: * Rakharam Singh of a .32 `Taurus' revolver worth $70,000 and six rounds of matching ammo priced at $600, property of Didco; * Sharon Ramdehol, a Didco employee, of $635,502 belonging to the company and her three gold rings and an artificial earring valued $12,250, while being armed with guns and * Gail Baird, another Didco staffer, of a gold band and a gold chain, all worth $60,000. They are also accused of attempting to murder Singh by discharging loaded firearms at him when heavily-armed men carted off money belonging to Didco and employees' valuables under the cover of gunfire. Singh, who suffered gunshot injuries, testified yesterday at the proceedings being conducted by Magistrate Dawn Holder-Alert. The other witness giving evidence before the adjournment was Detective Inspector Joseph Fraser of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide Squad. Both witnesses were led through their evidence-in-chief by Assistant Superintendent Oswald Massiah, prosecuting and cross-examined by Hughes, who is also representing Brandt and Rogers. Other attorney-at-law Mr Joseph Harmon, for Anderson, put Singh under cross-examination, as well. Hughes protested the early break until March 30, taken because the Prosecution did not have more witnesses and he made another application for Brandt to get bail, saying the remanded prisoner's family cannot afford the $300,000 surety set on another charge. The lawyer said Brandt, whose father is a Police officer, had turned himself in and all the charges against him stem from one event. So far, the lawyer said, there is no evidence against Brandt. But Massiah opposed the grant on the ground that Brandt is facing more charges about which testimony has not yet been led. Mrs Holder-Alert repeated that she is willing to work every day on the matters so they can be concluded as quickly as possible but pointed out that the Defence and the Prosecution would have to cooperate towards the conclusion. Douglas, Brandt, Rogers and Anderson will remain in jail pending the resumption of the Didco inquiry. Meanwhile, Douglas alone will be attending Court today for the continuation of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) robbery case in which he is charged with the January 10 $13M heist. Particulars of that charge said Douglas robbed June Ann Perez of $13,736,993 in cash belonging to NIS while being armed with a gun.
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