Alleged robber given second chance by victim

The victim in an alleged robbery came to court this week to withdraw her evidence against the young accused because, she said, “everybody deserves a second chance.”

Bahari Dopwell, currently housed at Her Majesty’s Prison in relation to another matter, came before the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, May 12.

The youngster, a resident of Paul’s Lot, was 18 years old when he was charged with the armed robbery of Jada Palmer of Green Hill. Palmer was said to have been relieved of a gold and white Iphone 6 in an incident said to have taken place at around 11 pm on September 27, 2019, in the area of Grenville Street, Kingstown.

Part of the robbery charge laid against Dopwell reads that he put Palmer in fear of being then and there subjected to force.

However, this week, Palmer made her way to the SOC, and indicated that she doesn’t want to proceed any further with it.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche asked her whether she came to this decision of her own accord, or if anyone threatened her, thereby causing her to come to that conclusion.

She replied that they did not.

“So you have a forgiving heart?” the prosecutor asked her.

It was at this point that Palmer indicated, “Everybody deserves a second chance.”

The prosecutor quipped, chuckling, that some get three and four chances.

Consequently, Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne discharged Dopwell for this matter. As a robbery charge, if the evidence supported it, Dopwell would have had to stand trial at the High Court for the matter, and there he may very well have been sentenced to a long stint in prison for the very serious offence.