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by pltm
(PLTM) - Imagine a firearm pointed directly at you, staring down the barrel, the finger of the holder hugging the trigger and in a split moment, an opportunity presents itself for you to make a decision on life or death. Senior Crown Counsel Leslie Ann Faulkner put this scenario to a nine member jury today, November 8, as she opened the trial into the botched armed robbery at CIBC First Caribbean Bank on February 16, 2015.
She said this was the position police sergeant Darville Carty found himself in when he was pounced on by a gunman.
Matthew Hazel, 24, a native of St. Vincent who is a Belonger, is charge with attempted robbery involving $28,342.08 from OneMart Supermarket, which was about to be deposited in the bank; attempted murder of an off-duty police sergeant, Carty; possession of a firearm with intent to commit a robbery; and possession of explosives, namely four rounds.
Faulkner in her opening address said that shortly after OneMart Supermarket had closed for business, the workers tallied the day's earning, for it to be transported to CIBC bank.
She said that the security officer who is responsible for transporting the money was not comfortable doing it at that time hence, sergeant Carty was called in for assistance. Carty collected the cash and made his way to the bank, in his private vehicle, and also armed with his police issued firearm.
When he arrived at the bank, he exited the vehicle however, before he could return to the vehicle to collect the cash, he was accosted by a lone masked gunman. With a gun pointing at him, Carty raised his hands in the air.
The gunman asked 'where is the money', and in fear for his life, Carty told him it was in the vehicle. However, the gunman said that was not seeing any money, and fired a shot at the officer.
Carty ended up on the ground with the gunman stating, "this is not a joke. I am not playing".
The officer insisted that the money was in the vehicle, and at this point, the gunman peeped in the vehicle, and Carty used this opportunity to reach for his firearm. As Carty raise his firearm, the gunman fired another shot at him, and began running in the area of Palm Groove.
Faulkner told the jury that, Carty got rid of his footwear and ran behind the masked man, "stop, armed police", Carty shouted.
The gunman then turned around and point his gun at Carty, as he ran. The gunman then fell to the ground and discarded of his mask, and kept on running. During this time, the gunman intermittently pointed his firearm towards the officer, who shot after the gunman.
The prosecutor said the officer encountered difficulties because he was not wearing any footwear and he eventually lost the gunman. He went back to the scene and retrieved the mask left behind by the gunman.
Faulkner told the court that shortly after the incident, Hazel showed up at the hospital. She also indicated that with the results of sample provided by Hazel and the swab taken from the mask at the scene, "we say the gunman was the accused".
The jury was also told that CCTV footage from CIBC bank will also be presented in court to show how Carty was held hostage momentarily.
Attorney-at-Law Valerie Stephens-Gordon appears for Hazel during the trial which is being heard before Justice Nicola Byer.
The trial continues.
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