Trial set for courier robbery suspects

(CNS): The men charged with the armed robbery of a Sprint courier van outside an insurance company last October are set for trial on 16 September. The armed daylight robbery occurred in the parking lot of BritCay Insurance on Eastern Avenue, George Town. John Phillip Cohen-Ebanks, one of the men standing charged on this offense, had given several statements relating to his involvement in the robbery. However, Cohen-Ebanks entered "not guilty" pleas on the 14 June. After consulting with his defense attorney, he proclaimed his innocence to one count of robbery and an additional count of the possession of an unlicensed firearm, due to the findings from an investigation involving the crown's key witness.

50 year-old Cohen-Ebanks has been in custody at the George Town Police Station by request in light of the potential harm that may have come to him if he were remanded into custody at the Northward Prison because of the statements he had given.

It was recorded that Cohen-Ebanks had confessed to his involvement in stealing the CI$8,117 and US$593 from the courier during the daylight heist and claimed he wanted to help his sick mother, who died since he was remanded into police custody approximately 8 months ago.

Following the turn of events caused by Cohen-Ebanks' pleas during his arraignment, his 32-year-old co-defendant Manuel Carter appeared before the judge to make another bail application. Carter's application was refused once more due to the strength of the prosecution's case against him. Both Carter and Cohen-Ebanks will now remain in jail until the trial in September. Themen are jointly charged on the same indictment with a younger West Bay man, Tarick Crawford, who is currently on bail.

The courier driver reported that one of the accused approached and threatened him with a semi-automatic pistol and then made away with approximately $9,000. He was seen fleeing the scene of the crime in a Mitsubishi with his co-defendants allegedly inside.