Man ordered whipped, jailed for armed robbery
By Clifford Stanley
Guyana Chronicle
November 11, 2003
WEST COAST BERBICE - A 27-year-old man of Rose Hall, Corentyne, has been sentenced to a whipping of ten lashes and jail for a total of seven years for robbery under arms and unlawful possession of a gun and ammunition.
Magistrate Kumar Doraisami imposed the sentences on Joseph Lewis, called Josey, at the New Amsterdam Magistrates' Court last week for the offences, committed at Rose Hall in January of 2002.
Lewis had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty at the end of a summary trial.
The Prosecution's case was that Lewis, armed with a .38 revolver, robbed Rose Hall resident Balram Shadrial of a .32 semi automatic pistol valued $198,000; eight rounds of ammunition valued $1,200; and a gold bangle valued $70,000 - all on the night of January 28, 2002.
The Court learned that Lewis wore a mask when he attacked Shadrial as the man was about to enter his home around 8.30 p.m. on the day of the incident.
Shadrial put up a fierce resistance for about 20 minutes, trading blows with his attacker, before being forced to hand over his possessions.
Shadrial recognized his attacker after Lewis's mask fell off during the tussle.
Lewis will receive ten strokes and serve five years in prison for robbery under arms.
He will also serve one year in prison on each of the two charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, but these will run concurrently with the five-year prison sentence.
Lewis's lawyer Mursalene Bacchus told the Magistrate that he would file an appeal against the verdict and sentences.