The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THREE men charged in connection with the multi-thousand dollar armored car theft two weeks ago claimed they were threatened to be dumped in a hole while in body bags.

Ishmael Knowles, 30, of Lincoln Blvd, Sergio Williams, 31, of Palm Beach Street and Ravano Lightbourne, 23, of All Saints Road, made these claims through their attorney, Stanley Rolle, who told the court his clients were threatened with more punishment if they didn't sign a statement.

Yesterday, the three appeared before Magistrate Jeanine Weech-Gomez facing three charges of armed robbery and a charge of conspiracy to the former.

It is claimed, that they conspired to, and did rob ICS Security Services Limited on Thursday July 12 while armed with a hand gun.

In the heist, $24,663 was taken from the armored car belonging to the Mayas Group of Companies, while $35,568.50 was taken from the Registrars Department.

An undetermined amount of cash and cheques were also taken from the Road Traffic Department.

The accused men were not required to enter plea to the charges and were remanded to prison to await the presentations of Voluntary Bills of Indictment on November 30.

Mr Rolle then made the claims of police brutality for the record, claiming that when the case reached the Supreme Court level, prosecutors often asked if their claims were mentioned at the arraignment.

"They were body bagged, placed in a dead person's bags, and received threats of being dumped in this body bag," the attorney told the Magistrate.

He also claimed his clients were choked and suffocated when fish bags were placed over their heads.

He claimed this occurred while offers recalled what took place concerning the incident, and when finished, had threatened to inflict more punishment on them if they refused to sign a statement.

Knowles also claimed he was denied the right to counsel.

Magistrate Weech-Gomez noted the complaints for the record and also made an order for Lightbourne to be seen by a physician. Lightbourne claims he was scheduled for surgery but that did not happen because he was being charged.

The men were remanded to prison until the completion of trial in the Supreme Court. Bail was not an option as the lower court does not have the power to grant a bond on those charges.