Two more charged in tourist attack

Kenavar Antwan Charles, 19, a tiler of Tweedside Road, St Michael and 18-year-old Xavier Xalico Joseph, a general worker of Cave Hill, St Michael appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick yesterday and were remanded until June 23.

They were not required to plead to any of the four May 17 charges which were read to them.

The pair is accused of robbing Darin Sisco of two chains and a cellular phone valued $2028 and $1 622 respectively, robbing Larraine Sisco of a cellular phone worth $1 622 and committing serious bodily harm against Sisco with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to do him serious bodily harm.

Their final charge is that on the same date, while they were present together with other persons, used unlawful violence – and their conduct taken together was such that it would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene, to fear for their personal safety.

The accused men were unrepresented by attorneys.

The prosecutor’s objection to bail included reminding the court that “the two accused are part and parcel of the nine we had on Tuesday”.

Citing sections of the Bail Act, Sergeant Victoria Leacock stressed that their actions had endangered public safety – and that of a particular person. She also spoke to the degree of violence used and the prevalence of such crimes.

She noted that robberies and serious bodily harm offences were being carried out against tourists, and tourism “is the bread and butter industry” of Barbados. Whether such attacks were “provoked or targeted,” it has had an effect on locals and “visitors who are here and those who are thinking of coming here”, the prosecutor said.

Referring to Sisco’s condition, the prosecutor said he had a fractured skull.

What was of deeper concern, said Sergeant Leacock, was that none of the nine present said “let’s not do this but what we heard was ‘give me a knife . . . give me something’”. The court heard that Joseph was already on bail from the District “A” Magistrates’ Court No. 2 on a 2024 robbery matter, while simultaneously being on bail from the District “D” Magistrates’ Court for “plenty matters under the Theft Act”.

“The court extended grace to him, for him to go and continue his studies. I was present for that and the promise was that he would not appear on any other matters. We have helped them; we have tried to help them; I believe they need the structural environment now,” Leacock emphasised.

Even though the accused Charles was not known to the court, the prosecutor recommended that he too be remanded based on the strength of the evidence pointing to CCTV footage which was hard to watch.

The shock and outrage expressed by the public ought to also be considered, the Sergeant submitted.

When Acting Chief Magistrate Frederick asked Joseph whether he had anything to say, he replied “no”.

On the other hand, accused Charles outlined why he should not to be remanded.

“Sir, I ain’t had no plans to rob nobody nor do nobody serious bodily harm, so I ain’t really know where this coming from.”

He said he was “a working man” who worked for what he wanted and understood how he would feel if someone took his items.

“I honestly don’t believe I should be remanded. I ain’t no threat to society. I never even get charged. I never rob, I never snatch nobody chain.”

Charles added that he just finished learning tiling and barbering and he would hate to be remanded and lose his job, because he helps his single mother.

The acting Chief Magistrate considered the submissions and determined that both should be remanded, based on public outrage and the delicate medical position of Sisco and the possibility of a more serious charge for the accused.

“For the protection of society and yourselves at this time, I am remanding you in custody,” he told both accused. (SD)