The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN convicted of conspiring to rob a John Bull retail store was denied bail yesterday ahead of his substantive hearing before the Court of Appeal in 2015.

David Collins and his lawyer Geoffrey Farquharson appeared in the appellate court arguing that his client’s prospects for a successful appeal were strong given the number of irregularities and/or errors that occurred in his client’s trial in the Supreme Court.

However, Crown respondent Sandradee Gardiner countered that Mr Farquharson’s submissions were merely rehashing a previous bail application to the appellate court in October 2013, which had been rejected.

The appellate court determined that Collins had no exceptional circumstances for it to exercise discretion and grant bail pending appeal after concluding that the submissions raised were issues to be dealt with at the substantive hearing scheduled for March 15.

In October 2012, Collins and Jonathan Armbrister were convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery when jurors found Armbrister guilty by a count of 7-2 and were split, 6-3, on Collins.

Both were found not guilty of armed robbery while Collins was also found guilty of causing damage and receiving.

Armbrister and Collins were sentenced to 25 and 20 years in prison respectively; however both have applied to challenge their conviction and sentence. The appeals are being heard separately as Armbrister is represented by Jerome Roberts.

Justices Anita Allen, Stanley John and Abdulai Conteh presided over yesterday’s proceedings.