BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT is eight years hard labour for Clive Grant for the crime of burglary, committed on January 21, 2011 in the New Pond Site home of Trevor ‘Jamsta’ Woodley from which he stole a Sony Ericsson cellular phone worth EC$700.
Grant of La Guerite, was found guilty with a 10-2 decision on Oct. 11, after the prosecution team which was led by Crown Counsel Rhonda Nisbett-Browne rested its case.
At his sentencing on Oct. 31, His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas sentenced him to eight years hard labour.
According to his social inquiry report which was prepared by Elvis Thomas, Grant is no stranger to the court.
The report stated that Grant must have had the home under surveillance and used equipment carried in his bag to cut down the screen and enter the home.
Members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force must also be commended as Grant was arrested in a few hours following the crime.
The trial began on Friday, Oct. 7, and Grant who was unrepresented maintained his innocence stating that on the date in question when he was apprehended by police, he was on his way home.
Woodley testified in court and said that while at home he heard a sound and went to investigate and saw a man crouched over in his kitchen.
He said that the burglar grabbed his wife’s bag but dropped it as he fled the scene. Woodley said that he observed the cellular phone which was charging at the time, missing and immediately made a report.
Grant was later spotted by police in the Greenlands area. When they called out to him, Grant began running and hid from the police.
The cellular phone which belonged to Woodley was found in Grant’s possession by Police along with a screwdriver, crowbar and knife in a backpack.
Grant said he worked in the construction field and that the phone that was allegedly found in his possession did not belong to him nor had he seen it before.
He said that if he had taken the cellular phone, he would have thrown it away when the police were chasing him as he allegedly did with some marijuana he had on him.
The clothing which was described by Woodley that the burglar wore was also different from those in which Grant was found wearing.
Grant was wearing a white shirt when police apprehended him and he also had a brown shirt in his bag while Woodley said he wore a gray shirt.
In his closing remarks to the jury, Grant said that it was a very serious case and pointed out the discrepancy in the dress code of the burglar and himself.
Grant also faces one more charge of being found in possession of housebreaking implements that may be called during the 2011 Criminal Assizes.
