BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE robbery case brought against Devon ‘X-Man’ Hodge, forwarded by the Director of Public Prosecution, was rejected by the 12-member jury and the charge cleared from his name.
Mid-week last week, Hodge, proclaiming his innocence from the very beginning, was tried at the Basseterre High Court of Justice for committing a November 28, 2008 offence of robbery with the use of a firearm.
The prosecution’s evidence placed Hodge in Sandy Point in the vicinity of ‘Pixie’s house’ on the night of the robbery along with another individual. Further prosecution evidence presented in court was that Hodge, along with his associate, robbed Junie ‘Walker’ Belle, relieving him of his cellular phone and a sum of money totalling in excess of $800.
During his testimony, Belle said that on the night in question, he was on his way from Fig Tree, Sandy Point to his home at The Alley, Sandy Point, and when he got in the vicinity of Pixie’s house on Pump Bay Road he was approached by two gun-bearing individuals.
“Two men run out of the bush with gun in front of me…They ran straight down to me and X-Man say. ‘Give me everything you have.’ But before that, he bus’ a shot; he fired a shot on the ground. He said to me, ‘Give me every effing thing you have.’ I said to him, ‘X-Man, what happen to you? Behave yourself.’…I done know is he because he ain’t had on no mask. (I) pushed him away and I continued walking. Then he ran back in front of me again.
“Then he said, ‘Oh you is bad man, oh you is bad man!’ The gun was in his hand. Then he put the gun to my head, then I grabbed his hand with the gun then put my foot out and roll him over my right foot, then I held him down on the ground.”
The two parties, according to Belle, were “wrangling for the gun” which was when “the other person ran up, grab my right hand and put his other hand in my pocket. Then he took my phone and my wallet. Then he ran. I let go X-Man and then went after (the other person). Then X-Man run…”
Belle said that before making a stop at the Sandy Point Police Station to lodge a complaint, he went to his father’s home at Fig Tree to inform him of his ordeal. He claimed that the incident lasted for 10-15 minutes but was unable to ascertain the identity of the second assailant.
Hodge was taken into custody that night and, according to his testimony, he did not see the virtual complainant (VC) on the night of the incident until after he was picked up by police and requested that his accuser be shown to him. The young man, while on oath, denied any involvement in the incident and claimed that around the time of the crime he was at a shop (in the vicinity of the Sandy Point Police Station) acquiring a ‘top up’ for his phone.
Hodge questioned why he would have discharged a round from the firearm if he had robbed the VC. He noted that for one to have done so, it would have drawn unwanted attention.
He also denied ownership of the black hoodie, blue headtie and camouflage trousers that the VC claimed he saw him wearing at the time of the robbery Hodge explained that he last wore camouflage clothing a number of years ago when he was a member of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force. After his stint ended there, Hodge said he returned the camouflage uniform he was issued.
About two hours after deliberations began, the jury returned and 11 of its members found that the Sandy Pointer’s innocence had been maintained, with one believing that he was guilty as charged. Trial judge, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle explained to Hodge that he was acquitted and free to leave the court.
