Attack on America Street…Two remanded

Nov 10, 2015 News

Days after gunmen ambushed and robbed America Street money changers, two men appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, following the institution of armed robbery charges.

Troy Abrams

The men, Troy Abrams, and Anthony Primo, 29, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who are known to the police, are facing two counts of armed robbery. They were remanded to prison until December 11.
Primo is no stranger to the courts. He was charged before for several serious offences including drug possession, firearm and ammunition possession and armed robbery.
They are accused of robbing money changers, Rayburn Fraser and Osafo Ward, at gunpoint on November 3, at America Street, Georgetown.
It is alleged that they robbed Fraser of $520,000, US$3000, TT$2,000 and SRD$2000- all totaling $1.6M. They were also accused of robbing Warde of $400,000 and US$7 00.
The men were not required to plead to the charges read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
According to reports, about ten gunmen attired in black, robbed and terrorized the money changers last Tuesday night. It was reported that the bandits arrived on Honda CG motorcycles and in a car.
The gunmen fired several shots but luckily no one was injured. In the end, they carted off cash and jewellery. Several Ak47, M70 and 9mm spent shells were recovered from the crime scene
Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, objected to the men being granted pre trial liberty citing the gravity of the charges and the penalty attached to the offences.
The court was told that four witnesses are slated to testify in the matter.
Abrams and Primo requested a speedy trial and told the Magistrate they have an alibi. Abrams claimed that

Anthony Primo

at the time of the robbery he was with his sister watching television. The accused also alleged that they were not placed on a proper Identification (ID) parade.
This is not the first time that gunmen have robbed Rayburn Fraser. On January 15, last at Manatee Place, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, gunmen pumped seven bullets in Rayburn before relieving him of a quantity of local and foreign currency and jewellery. The bandits ambushed Fraser, while he was seated in a parked car.
Twenty-two-year-old Rafael Huintzen was arrested and charged with the robbery. He was subsequently sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by a City Magistrate, after he pleaded guilty to the charge in March.