BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - RONDEL HANLEY of McKnight was yesterday (Oct. 8) unanimously found guilty of building breaking and larceny; an offence which he committed at Upper Prickley Pear Alley on February 15, 2011.
Hanley was accused of breaking into the Island Food Grocery Supermarket warehouse on the said date sometime after four in the morning and stealing a number of grocery items.
Hanley was accused of stealing 12 cases of Nestle Cornflakes, 30 cases of Kraft macaroni and cheese, 15 cases of Carnation milk, 12 cases of Starkist tuna, 20 cases of Brunswick Sardine, 20 cases of Fruita can drinks, 11 cases of Helmans mayonnaise, six cases of Stone Ginger Wine, three cases of Beehive Brandy, four cases of Nido Milk Powder, three cases each of large and small Sunquicks, 18 cases of Libby's spaghetti and meatballs, two cases of Delmont sliced pineapples, 35 cases of Libby's vienna sausage, four cases of Hunts tomato paste, 12 cases of a certain juice, seven cases of trash bags, two cases of Redbull, 11 cases of Teddy's pampers, three cases of Milo, three cases of Napoleon Brandy, two cases of Complete Seasoning, two cases of Festival cookies, two cases of Quix dishwashing liquid, 20 bottles of Listerine mouthwash, 25 cases of Pringles, four cases of Bounty paper towel, two cases of Magnum, two cases of Sunmix, and four cases of Heineken beer all to the value of EC$33,031.56.
The trial, which began and ended yesterday, saw the prosecution team calling a number of witnesses, including the investigating officers who testified that upon receiving a report of a break-in and upon reaching to the Food Grocery Supermarket saw Hanley coming from behind a parked vehicle near the Supermarket's warehouse.
The officers also stated that the stolen goods were found scattered across the parking lot near the Supermarket's warehouse.
However, Hanley, who stood unrepresented, testified that he was on his way home from a party on Market Street on the said date sometime after 4:00 a.m., and when he got to Cayon Street he saw the goods in the parking lot.
Hanley told the court that he was stopped by police whilst taking a closer look to see what was going on.
When cross examined, Hanley revealed that he did not take anything but was about to make away with some of the goods when he was stopped by the police officers.
During his closing arguments, Hanley said that he did not steal anything from the Supermarket's warehouse and there was no evidence to show that the police found any stolen items on him; therefore, he was not guilty of the crimes for which he was charged.
Hanley would be sentenced in a few weeks following his Social Inquiry Report.
