-
by pltm
(PLTM) - In a very emotional sitting yesterday, September 16th 2016 at the Magistrate's Court, Shadrach Thompson, 19, who is facing a total of three charges of burglary, told the court his actions are consequences of the financially unstable life he is living.
Thompson pleaded not guilty to two counts of burglary which occurred at Imagine Spa on August 15th 2016, where he allegedly stole a Dell Inspiron laptop worth $800; and at Tico retail store between the 14th and 17th of August 2016, where he allegedly stole $8.
He pleaded guilty to burglary at Tortola Ice between the 14th and 17th of August 2016, where he stole $25 and a cash register valued at $100.
Crown Counsel Garcia Kelly Laud out the particulars of the matters.
On August 12th, the owner of Imagine Spa located in Pasea Estate, tightly secured the premises and left for the weekend. When she returned on Monday, 15th August around 1:00 pm, she noticed that her establishment had been burglarised and her computer missing.
The matter was reported to the police, who then conducted an investigation at the scene, which consisted of photographs being taken and the dusting for fingerprints.
Officers noted that a black t-shirt was found during their investigation at the scene of the crime. Video footage was was also collected from the spa’s surveillance cameras.
That video showed two persons entering the establishment around 3:20 am on August 15th.
The court heard that during this investigation, Thompson was in police custody for another matter, when they met with him to inform him of this incident.
In a consented interview, Thompson denied any involvement in the robbery. Subsequently, he consented to his fingerprints being taken to aid the officers in their investigation.
On September 12th, police got word that the fingerprints collected from the accused and those taken from the crime scene were a definite match.
A search warrant was soon after executed on the home of the accused in Purcell Estate. It was noted that the stolen laptop was not found.
When officers questioned Thompson again on the matter, he then said, “Yea, I know about it.”
According to Crown Counsel Kelly, as noted in the police report for the matter, the accused confessed to burglarising the spa and explained to the officers that he had broken the window to get into the business place, then he stole the laptop and a charger, and exited through the same window. He also stated that he left his t-shirt behind.
The report went on to state that the accused disclosed he couldn’t get into the laptop as it was password protected, so he hid it in the bushes close to Tortola Ice. The accused allegedly returned a week later for the stolen laptop, but it was not there.
In another incident, on August 16th , the accused and another assailant allegedly used a steel to break the shutter of a window at Tico Retail Store, opened the window, entered the building and stole a total of $8.
Early the next morning, August 17th, the complainant returned to the store and saw the damage to the window. In making a complete check of the store, they noticed the cash register open and $8 missing.
Officers were summoned and commenced their investigations, which involved dusting for prints.
Again, Thompson, who was still in police custody, was informed and questioned of the matter, to which he stated he had no knowledge of it.
During a consented interview with officers, he agreed to samples of his fingerprints being taken again, as well as DNA swabs. Again, the fingerprints collected from the accused and those lifted from the crime scene resulted in a definite match.
After being informed of this, Thompson again denied having any knowledge of the incident.
It was also noted that the other assailant in the matter was also cautioned and questioned, which resulted in him informing officers, “I was there on the step looking out for police.”
In the third case, allegedly, on August 16th at Tortola Ice in Wickham Cay II, the accused, along with another assailant, used a steel to pry open a shutter on the establishment. The accused then entered the building, went to the front door of the business and opened the door for his accomplice to enter.
It was noted, that they stole the store’s cash register and $25 in cash.
Police were summoned to conduct an investigation, where they dusted the room for fingerprints.
Still in police custody, police informed the accused of the incident and he confessed that him and another person entered the building and stole the cash register and cash.
He told officers that he discarded the cash register in the bushes.
Later that day, the court heard that Thompson led police officers to the location where he allegedly threw the register. It was found in the bushes behind Tortola Ice.
His accomplice was also arrested in the matter.
During mitigation for his guilty plea, the accused begged the court for mercy, noting that he is aware his actions were wrong and promised that they will not be repeated.
“I know, I accept and I confessed what I did. I know I was wrong. I don’t have any reason to do it. It’s a learning experience for me and I know it was a dumb act. I regret it. If you [court] can find it in your heart to give me a pass, I am certain you won’t see me in here again.”
In response to the court questioning the motive behind his actions, he stated that things are rough with him at home.
“Things rough with me and my mother. I don’t have anyone to turn to. I have brothers, but they all have their own family. My mother only working a part-time job. Things rough.”
Thompson was remanded to prison and will return to court on October 26th 2016.
-----
Copyright 2023 by Virgin Islands Platinum News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
