The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court judge yesterday told the two men convicted of conspiring to rob a John Bull retail store that their sentence had nothing to do with the prevalence of armed robbery in the Bahamas.

Before sentencing Jonathan Armbrister and David Collins to 25 and 20 years in Her Majesty’s Prison respectively, Justice Indra Charles noted that conspiracy to commit any offence is a serious crime.

She added that taking into account the extent to which the country relies on tourism, their actions could not be ignored.

Collins, 33, of Cowpen Road and Armbrister, 35, of Elizabeth Estates, were accused of robbing John Bull’s Bay Street store of 12 watches, together worth $395,360, last May.

During the raid, a masked man used a hammer to smash open display cases and steal the luxury watches.

An accomplice was armed with a rifle and a third man drove a getaway car.

Another suspect stood trial with the pair in May this year. However, Jasper Curry was acquitted of armed robbery in August when Justice Charles directed the nine-member jury to return a 9-0 not guilty verdict against him.

On October 31, the nine-member jury delivered verdicts on charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery and other charges related to the incident.

Both Armbrister and Collins were found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Jurors found Armbrister guilty by a count of 7-2, while they were split 6-3 on Collins.

Both men were found not guilty of armed robbery while Collins was also found guilty of causing damage and receiving.

Yesterday, prosecutor Sandradee Gardiner argued that the two convicts should be sentenced to 20 years to life on the charge of conspiracy.

She said such a conspiracy was just as serious as the actual offence of armed robbery, and noted that half the stolen watches had yet to be found.

The prosecutor said Collins had no previous convictions but Armbrister had been found guilty of armed robbery in the past.

After brief submissions from attorneys Jerone Roberts (Armbrister) and Geoffrey Farquharson (Collins),

Justice Charles said the range for the offence was indeed 20 years to life.

Taking into account that Armbrister had a previous conviction, she sentenced him to 25 years in prison.

Collins was given the minimum of 20 years and told he would be sentenced for his receiving and causing damage convictions after a retrial on the armed robbery charge.

Before the hearing adjourned, defence attorneys asked that their clients’ heads not be shaved.

Collins, a Rastafarian, pleaded particularly strenuously for the judge to make an order to this effect, claiming prison officials would breach his constitutional rights otherwise.

The judge acknowledged the request.