West Berbice labourer remanded for robbery of amputee

Thirty-one-year-old Ryan Williams, a labourer from Number 12 Village, West Coast Berbice, was remanded to prison on Tuesday in connection with the robbery of an amputee man.

Williams appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was formally read.

It has been alleged that on December 29, at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, Williams, armed with a cutlass, robbed Devanand Singh of a Samsung Galaxy S20 cellphone valued at $175,000 and $145,000 in cash.

Represented by attorney Joel Edmond, Williams was not required to enter a plea for the robbery charge. Edmond requested bail, arguing for Williams to be released on reasonable conditions. However, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards objected, emphasising the seriousness of the offense and Williams’s history as a repeat offender.

Edwards noted that Singh, a 40-year-old resident of Block D Bath Settlement, had previously lost his right foot and had also suffered injuries after being attacked by Williams. He cautioned that if granted bail, there was a risk Williams would not return to court.

Following the prosecution’s request, Magistrate Matthias denied bail and remanded Williams to custody. He is scheduled to appear again on January 29th at Fort Wellington Magistrates’ Court.