The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court judge has again denied bail to a man awaiting trial for an armed robbery, ruling that his prior escape from custody and the strength of the Crown’s case outweighed any change in his circumstances.

Justice Darron Ellis refused bail to Tevin Fritz, who is accused of robbing the Chances web shop at Baillou Hill and John Roads of $500 on February 24, 2024 with armed accomplices.

Police said Fritz was arrested later that day on Fleming Street in a grey Japanese vehicle matching the alleged getaway car.

Prosecutors Timothy Bailey and Tylah Murray opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charge, public safety concerns linked to the alleged use of a firearm and a risk that Fritz would abscond. They noted that Justice Joyann Ferguson had denied him bail in September 2025 because of a prior conviction for escaping lawful custody.

While on remand for the robbery, Fritz escaped from Southern Police Station around 9pm on February 29, 2024, the night before his arraignment. He was recaptured and arraigned on March 4, 2024 and later served eight months in prison for the escape.

The prosecution said his circumstances had not materially changed since the earlier bail refusal and argued the case against him was strong, alleging he admitted involvement during a police interview. Trial is set for May.

The defence, led by Ian Cargill, said Fritz had been on remand since 2024 and pointed to the discontinuance of a rape charge against him on May 25, 2025, arguing that the allegation had been central to the earlier bail decision. Counsel also disputed the Crown’s interpretation of his interview, contending that at most he admitted dropping off other suspects and not taking part in the robbery.

The defence further noted that Fritz had previously been on bail from July 26, 2021 to February 24, 2024 without breaches, had worked as a security guard and had no other pending matters. He also had a prior drug conviction for which he received an absolute discharge after completing probation.

Justice Ellis accepted that the discontinued rape charge altered the defendant’s position to some extent but found it did not address the central concern — his demonstrated willingness to evade custody. The judge found he posed a high risk of absconding and that the Crown’s case was not weak.

Bail was refused on the grounds that Fritz is likely to abscond, is not of good character, the safety of prosecution witnesses must be preserved and the matter will be tried within a reasonable time.