BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AKEEM WHYTE and Deslia DeSouza of Fiennes Avenue, McKnight, jointly charged for possession of house breaking implements and malicious damage, appeared in the Basseterre High Court this morning (May 15) and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Whyte and DeSouza were charged with the offence which was committed at approximately 3:00 a.m. on June 22, 2012 in the vicinity of the Sands Complex.
DeSouza was released on bail following her arrest, while Whyte remained on remand at Her Majesty's Prison.
SKNVibes learnt that a police officer who was on patrol at the time, heard when a security alarm was activated in the Sands Complex and, upon investigation, realised that the sound of the alarm came from Caribe Café.
The officer entered the building and conducted a search which resulted in the find of Akeem White and Deslia Desouza hiding behind a large flower pot.
They were apprehended and a search of their person revealed parts of the security alarm system were in the pocket of one of the building break-in bandits and also a handbag within which were house-breaking equipment.
Further investigations revealed that the two youths had disabled the security alarm, but not before it was activated for a short while.
They were subsequently arrested and taken to the Basseterre Police Station, where they were charged for the offence.
They both appeared before a City Magistrate from whom DeSouza gained her temporary freedom at EC$8 000 with two sureties, while her accomplice was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison and can only be granted bail by the High Court Judge because of a similar offence he had committed earlier that year at TechSperts.
DeSouza did not appear at the Basseterre High Court yesterday (May 14) for arraignment at the opening of the May 2013 Criminal Assizes, as is the norm for all persons charged and bailed.
A bench warrant was however issued for her arrest.
Appearing before His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas today, both DeSouza and Whyte pleaded guilty to the charges laid against them and, upon hearing that they would both be sent to prison to await sentencing, the young lady immediately broke down in tears.
She left the Court crying and her wails were clearly heard even after the prison vehicle in which she was being carried had driven away.
Both DeSouza and Whyte are expected to be sentenced in a matter of weeks, upon completion of their Social Inquiry Reports.
