UPDATE - “Vehicle back glass shattered in front of me & I dropped the bag”
Yesterday June 8, 2012, Parson Lewis who is employed as a Messenger with the company and also assist with picking up monies and taking to the bank, recounted the day of the robbery of January 21, 2011, as the trial into the robbery got underway in the High Court.
Rodney Simmonds Jr., Mikael Howe and Micheal Stevens are facing charges of robbery, wounding with intent and possession of firearm with intent to endanger life following the brazen robbery where $190,501.41 was stolen from MoneyGram, Flemming Street.
Mr. Lewis told the court that on January 21, 2011, he had collected the day’s cash from the two other locations for MoneyGram, P & M Studio first and then Village Cay, sometime after 3 p.m.
The messenger said he used the company’s vehicle to do the rounds and when he returned to the Flemming Street location, he parked the jeep in the parking lot in front of MoneyGram facing the court.
“I took out the box containing the pick up from the other two locations then I took it into the MoneyGram at Flemming Street and went behind the counter and gave it to the two employees who work there,” he testified.
Mr. Lewis said he was then given the box, which would have now contained cash from all three locations, and proceeded towards the outside of the building accompanied by another employee Julio Bell. He told the court he was heading to the National Bank of the Virgin Islands to make the deposit.
“When I exit the door, I proceed towards the door (vehicle door) but look towards my left and saw like a silver hand gun to my left, so then when I look clearly and see, it was a guy with black t-shirt, mask over his head and wearing black clothing,” the Crown witness remembered.
At that point, Lewis said he turned to the opposite direction, which is towards the LIME building and with the deposit box still in his hand, he began to run.
“… the guy took off after me and I ran between Hazim’s and LIME. When I was running I wasn’t looking back but I heard shots fired and I saw a vehicle back glass shattered in front of me then I drop the box containing the money,” Mr. Lewis recounted, who when questioned by Crown Counsel Graham of how he felt at that time, said he was scared.
The employee told the Court that he continued running, and ran behind the LIME building then walked across to People’s Shoe Store where he received a call from Mr. Bell and proceeded to walk across to Bolo’s to meet "them".
It was only when he got to Bolo’s that Mr. Lewis said he observed that he was bleeding from the leg. He showed the court the area on his left leg where he was bleeding from. He said he was then taken to the hospital by Mr. Bell and Mr. Malone.
An X-ray revealed that a small particle was in his leg. The witness further stated that he was treated and discharged but that the particle is still in his leg. Lewis further told the court that he suffers from no effects from the injury.
He also explained in his testimony that he felt he saw the guy with the gun before he saw him and it had seemed the person was coming from behind the wall at MoneyGram and at that time the gun was not pointed towards him.
Employee resigned a week before robbery
Meanwhile, earlier yesterday June 7, 2012 during the trial, the Supervisor of MoneyGram testified that an employee resigned about one week before the robbery took place.
Marlene Campbell, who said she is the Supervisor responsible for the MoneyGram’s outlets, testified that the employee, Zubida O'Neal, had resigned a week before the robbery.
During cross examination by defense lawyer Corine George, who is representing Simmonds Jr., the Crown’s witness said the young lady was a part time employee with the company for two years and worked for three to four days per week. She also described her as a good worker.
On the day of the robbery, January 21, 2011, Ms. Campbell said the security workers went to all the locations and pick up the day’s cash and then met at the Flemming Street location which is their flagship store.
The store normally closes at 3:30 p.m. but the Supervisor testified that afternoon they closed about 3:40 p.m. because they had excess customers.
“After our door was closed, my co-workers and myself start the process of balancing our daily cash. At about 4 p.m. the security arrived (Parson Lewis and Julio Bell),” she said, noting that the two men arrived with cash from other locations.
The Crown’s witness recalled that the total amount of money from all four locations added up to $190, 501.41 and some cents”. In giving a breakdown of the cash, she said Anegada’s total was $6172.85, P and M Studio $37, 404.12, Village Cay $41,560.68 and Flemming Street $105,363.76.
Parsons was the one who was carrying the cash deposit bag, the witness added.
According to Ms. Campbell, after the security left they normally lock the door but “momentarily” she noticed one of the securities ran back inside, Julio Bell, panicking.
“From where I was sitting I observed a young man running from the outside, he ran from the right towards the left. He was slim, tall, couldn’t recognise his face, he was in dark clothing. From where I was sitting there was a wall at the side and I recognise he jumped over the wall.”
Crown to bring DNA evidence, telephone records & witnesses
During the opening of the trial, the Crown said they will be presenting DNA evidence, telephone records and several witnesses during the trial which is expected to last for one week.
In her opening arguments, Crown Counsel Leslie Ann Faulkner, who is assisting lead Counsel in the case Valston Graham, disclosed that based on telephone data communication and evidence from various witnesses, that the robbery was in fact planned.
Following the robbery, the Crown said Police was notified and a search was carried out in the area of MoneyGram where several items were found between the ghut area and the softball field. The items included clothing and a firearm.
The court heard that the robbery was a joint enterprise and while she said only three persons may have been present at the time, everyone involved is liable.
The trial continues today June 8, 2012 with Justice Albert Readhead presiding.
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