BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OURTIC GILLARD’s fate is now in the hands of the jury who went to deliberate today (Sep. 29) at 11: 05 a.m. on whether he was guilty of armed robbery or not.
The prosecution seeks to prove that Gillard, on Oct. 10, 2007 in the evening armed with a firearm did rob the Calypso Bay, Frigate Bay home of Dr. Larry Betance and his wife Katherine Pereira-Betance of a bag filled with a number of items including EC$40.00, leather knife and credit card holder all to the total value of EC$15,65.00.
The prosecution team which was led by Crown Counsel Rhonda Nisbette-Browne called a total of eight witnesses including the couple and members of the Royal St. Christopher Police Force to support their case.
The unrepresented Gillard after the prosecution had rested its case, chose to go into the witness stand and give evidence under oath.
Larry Betance testified in court and said that he was at home at the time of the incident watching television when he heard their dog barking.
He went outside and a man was on the verandah pointing a gun to his head.
Larry ran back inside which alarmed his wife, who came out and saw the man pointing the gun at her husband’s head.
Katherine Betance said that the man said, ‘Give me the money, give me the money,” and she replied that they did not have any money.
However, she told the court she tossed a kipling bag to the intruder.
The husband said that the man rummaged through the bag and dropped it before he jumped over a railing and left. He said he heard a car drive off.
Larry said the criminal was wearing a dark coloured pant and hat, a camouflage jacket and a bandana across his mouth and nose that looked like it could be camouflage.
He also said that he saw the criminal’s skin tone, eyes and that the man who sat in the prisoner’s dock was the person that came into his home.
Larry told the court that during the incident he was frightened for his life and still has sleeping problems.
“I will never forget his eyes,” said Katherine during her testimony.
She said that when she saw the criminal in her home, she asked him what he wanted.
“I was talking to that man,” she said pointing at the accused during her testimony.
She told the court she recalled his build, and his eyes, his dark skin and voice.
SKNVibes also learnt that sometime after 1 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2007, Gillard was apprehended at Janet Alley, in Basseterre.
Police officers testified in court and said that Gillard was found near a stolen vehicle that was seen driving on West Bourne Ghut.
A report was also previously made about the stolen vehicle that belonged to a defense force soldier.
Police officers identified Gillard dressed in the same clothing described by Larry, when they met him at Janet’s Alley.
However, the defense force jacket was not brought into evidence.
During his apprehension by the police, he was injured and the keys for the car were said to be next to him.
There were also 9mm rounds of bullets found in the car.
Gillard however in his testimony, told the court that he did not have the keys for the car and did not go to the vehicle.
He also denied being at the residence and said that he was walking home at the time when he was ‘assaulted’ by police at the alley.
The case first ended in a mistrial at the January 2011 Criminal Assizes, after it was revealed that one of the jurors was employed at the same establishment as the virtual complainant, Larry Betance.
His Lordship then told the court that he was informed that one of the jurors was employed at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, the same educational institution that Dr. Betance is employed as a professor.
The judge then explained that that revelation would be prejudicial to the case and he declared a mistrial.
The case has now been sent to the jury and Gillard is awaiting the verdict.
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