Convict charged with armed robberies, attempted murder months after release from prison

Months after being freed of a murder charge, 23-year-old Carlton Bourne found himself before the court again, this time for three counts of armed robberies and attempted murder.

Bourne of Norton and Chapel Streets appeared before City Magistrate, Judy Latchman and was not required to plea to the charge which alleged that on July 27 at Cemetery Road, he wounded Tyrese Fraser with intent to commit murder.

It is further alleged that on the same day, while armed with a gun, Bourne robbed Fraser of $84,000, a quantity of jewellery and other items amounting to a total of $377,000. He denied the charge.

It is also alleged that on the same day at East La Penitence, armed with a gun, he robbed O’Neil Hopkinson of $17,000 worth in items.

The last charge alleged that on July 19 at Vlissingen Road, armed with a gun, he robbed Adrian McKenzie of an XR motorcycle valued $435,000. He denied all the charges while his lawyer, Tiffany Jeffery requested bail. Magistrate Latchman remanded Bourne to prison until August 27.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris told the court that Bourne was recently released from prison after serving more than four years for an armed robbery charge.

In March 2018, Bourne along with another was freed of the murder of a Whim Village, Berbice businessman, Winston Ragnauth, who was killed during a robbery in 2012.

The men were freed by Justice Sadil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court after a mixed jury found them not guilty.