Not guilty verdicts for Simmonds Jr. & Howe!
For two weeks, the duo was on trial for robbery, possession of firearm with intent to endanger a life and wounding with intent.
In light of this, Justice Albert Redhead told the young men that they were free to go. However, only Howe walked out a free man since Simmonds Jnr, who is charged with another criminal offence, has to remain in prison.
Meanwhile, the charges against Michael Stevens were dropped last Friday, June 22, 2012. His lawyer Akeela Anderson had successfully argued that the Crown did not have sufficient evidence to link her client to the robbery.
However, the other two alleged accomplices Jason Stevens and Leonard Sprauve pleaded guilty to the robbery on June 7, 2012. They pled guilty to robbery and possession of firearm with intent to endanger life, and not guilty to wounding with intent. In light of their guilty pleas, the Crown offered no evidence in the latter.
Jason and Sprave will be sentenced on July 20, 2012.
The men made headlines following the daring January 21, 2011 robbery where $193, 409.33 was taken from the Flemming Street establishment.
According to court records, the robbery occurred around 4:30 p.m. while two security officers were in the process of picking up the day’s earnings to take to the National Bank of the Virgin Islands.
Simmonds Jr. was represented by Corrine George and Howe by Yohhahnseh Cave, while Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham and Crown Counsel Leslie Ann Faulkner appeared for the Crown.
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