Two men charged in connection with the daylight robbery of the Diamonds International jewelry store in George Town appeared in Summary Court Monday afternoon.
Christopher Julian Myles, 32, who has a George Town address, and James Herbert McLean, 22, who has a Prospect address, are charged with robbing Diamonds International of goods valued at more than $500,000 on New Year’s Day. McLean appeared to have a black eye on the right side.
They are also charged with possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery.
Robbery can be dealt with only in Grand Court. The matter was transmitted there, and the two men are scheduled to appear on Friday, Jan. 17.
Attorneys John Furniss and Fiona Robertson did not apply for bail.
No details of the charges against Myles and McLean were outlined. However, they were followed into the dock by Don Marcus Nixon, 48, of a George Town address, who is charged with theft at the same store on the same day. No value has yet been quantified for the items he allegedly stole.
Crown Counsel Marilyn Brandt told Magistrate Valdis Foldats that she objected to bail for Nixon.
Ms Brandt said that on Wednesday, Jan. 1, staff of Diamonds International began work at 7 a.m. They placed jewelry in the window and show cases, locking the cases afterward.
At 8 a.m. the store opened, and at 8:19 a.m. three men entered, armed with a firearm and a hammer. A gun was pointed at the security guard, who was made to lie on the floor. The store was then robbed of jewelry.
Ms Brandt said it was not clear whether Nixon entered while the robbers were in the store or shortly after. She said that Police Commissioner David Baines was in his vehicle, off duty, at the Fort Street junction. He noticed there were masked men in the store and observed three men running from the store. One had a white head covering and two had black coverings.
Ms Brandt said Mr. Baines also noticed a fourth man, who was unmasked. That person was wearing a yellow marina vest.
Using his vehicle, Mr. Baines attempted to apprehend the other men. CCTV footage showed the robbery, and Nixon was identified as the man not wearing a mask.
He could be seen in the store walking to a display case, which appeared to be smashed, and taking what appeared to be a watch and a gold chain from the display case.
Police subsequently spoke to Nixon and he was said to admit his act. Ms Brandt said Nixon told officers, “I know it was wrong still, but I wasn’t thinking fast.” He then took police to a neighbor he had given the items to. The neighbor handed them over to police. Ms Brandt based her objection to bail on the likelihood that Nixon would re-offend.
Defense attorney Prathna Bodden said Nixon was not disputing anything that happened, but he was not involved in the robbery.
The magistrate asked if this fact didn’t give the court an idea of Nixon’s attitude toward the basic norms of society.
Ms Bodden said Nixon suffered a stroke in 2008 and had mental health issues since then. After appearing in Grand Court on a charge of arson relating to his own property, social inquiry and health reports indicated a need for a neurological assessment. However, the specialist’s report had not yet been received, so it was not known whether Nixon was fit to plead.
“He did the wrong thing at the wrong time. He had nothing to do with the robbery,” Ms Bodden emphasized.
The magistrate said Nixon had shown a blatant disregard for the norms of society and his impulse control was reduced. Further, this offense had been committed while on bail for arson.
He decided to put this matter over to the Mental Health Court, when a team of professionals would be on hand to discuss a possible bail package.
Before hearing anything about either the robbery or the theft charges, Magistrate Foldats said he felt obliged to disclose that he arrived at the scene within minutes after the robbery because he was going snorkeling. He said he wanted all counsel to aware of the fact; no one had any objection. Mr. Foldats said he had not observed anything of value and, in any case, it would not affect his role in court, which was to transmit the robbery charge to Grand Court and adjourn the theft charge.
The charge in Nixon’s case was not sent to Grand Court, partly because the value of the items allegedly taken was not known at the time.
It is understood that a third man arrested in connection with the robbery was being interviewed Monday afternoon. That man, who police have not named, has been undergoing medical treatment at the Cayman Islands Hospital for injuries he received while he was being apprehended.
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