High Court grants bail to woman mistakenly charged

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

A woman, who police said they wrongfully charged in connection with an armed robbery, on Tuesday moved to the High Court and secured bail.

She is Alana Taylor, who was charged along with two men for allegedly committing a gun-robbery at the home of a female gold miner, was granted GUY$80,000 bail by Chief Justice Ian Chang.

Taylor of 212 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown had been refused bail thrice by City Magistrate, Judy Latchman.

When the case was first called last week before the Magistrate, Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunte had told the court that the 35-year old woman wad charged mistakenly and that she was a friend of the robbery victim, Elizabeth Hendricks. The prosecutor had said that Taylor would have been used as a witness against the two men- 23-year old Peter McKenzie of 298 Meadow Brook Gardens and 19-year old Anikie Rogers of 195 Meadow Brook Gardens.

At her second court appearance on March 7, Police Inspector Joel Ricknauth had told the court that he had received instructions to proceed with the charge against the woman. At that stage the Magistrate had ordered  him to seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).  The DPP’s Chambers, however, could not have offered any advice because of incomplete statements.

When the mother of three re-appeared on Tuesday (March 11), the statements were still incomplete but the prosecutor again objected to bail on grounds of the seriousness of the offence and a gun had been used in the process. Her lawyer, Mark Waldron, then moved to the High Court and secured bail.

Mc Kenzie and Rogers have been accused of robbing Hendricks of one BLU cellular phone, one gold ring, one hang bag, one laptop, three Blackberry chargers  with a total value of GUY$341,000 on March 2.  They were not required to plea to the indictable offence. They are due to appear in court again on Wednesday.