Woman jailed for house break

Nov 22, 2012 News

A two-year trial for break an enter and larceny came to an end yesterday at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, resulting in a woman having to spend the next five years of her life in prison.
The 23-year-old woman, Christine Bharrat, of Grove, East Bank Demerara, was sentenced yesterday by Magistrate Leslie Sobers.
On September 1, 2010, Bharrat broke into the dwelling place of Michelle Bowen, her cousin and stole a quantity of gold jewellery and other valuables totaling $323,200. Bharrat had pleaded not guilty.
The court was told that Bowen secured her home at lot 213 Grove and left for work that morning. When she returned home about 17:00 hours, she noticed that her house was broken into. Further checks revealed that the articles were missing.
A report was made and the VC informed the police that she suspected Bharrat was responsible for the breakage. Fingerprints were lifted and the suspect was arrested. The ranks then took fingerprint samples from the accused and they matched those recovered from the scene. The evidence was tendered in court.
On November 4, the woman, in an unsworn statement, told the court that she was nowhere around the premises when the items went missing. The woman told the court that she was at her husband’s workplace all day. However, the husband said that he only saw the woman around 08:30 hours on the day in question.
During yesterday’s hearing after the woman was told that the court found her guilty and she was asked by the Magistrate if she had anything so say. The woman responded in the negative. In handing down his sentence the Magistrate pointed out to her that at no point did she dispute her fingerprints being found at the scene nor did she try to make out to the court how her prints were found in the house, since she was not a visitor to her cousin’s home.