Sharpes duo sentenced to 10 years for robbery

For robbing a man of his wallet and its contents, two residents of Redemption Sharpes were sentenced to 10 years in prison at the Criminal Assizes of the High Court.{{more}}

Mwata Henry, 21, and Kenuth Bess, 23, were jointly charged with robbery and wounding.

On the charge of wounding, both men were sentenced to seven years in jail by High Court Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle.

The sentences will run concurrently.

On December 6, 2011, at Redemption Sharpes, the men robbed Ezekiel John, of the same address, of his leather wallet, valued at $15, which contained $1,735 in cash and a cheque for $45.

He was also robbed of two galvanise screws valued at $23.

During the trial, John told the court that at about 6:20 p.m., he was walking along the main road in Sharpes when Henry came out of some bushes and asked, “Why you watching me so for?”

John said he responded, “Did you take your bottom foot and watch me looking at you?”

According to John, he continued walking and shortly after, he felt someone grab him around his neck from behind.

He said Bess then came and grabbed his feet and that was when he “bawl out for murder!”

John said a struggle ensued with his attackers and during that struggle, he passed out.

He said when he woke up, blood was coming from his head and other parts of his body. He also noticed that his wallet and other items were missing.

John then made a report to the Old Montrose Police Station.

Henry and Bess were unrepresented in court.

Both men, who are currently serving custodial sentences on other matters, will have their most recent sentence run concurrently with the sentences they are already serving.(KW)