Leonard O’Brien outside court during a previous appearance.
By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A TRIAL date in 2018 has been fixed for the accused behind the home invasion and gunpoint robbery of a well known psychiatrist.
Leonard O’Brien, 19, and Wilson Lacroix, 20, appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for a fixture hearing for their case concerning the accosting of Dr David Allen and his family.
They had pleaded not guilty to housebreaking and armed robbery when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court three weeks ago.
However, they were without legal representation and were told that lawyers would be appointed for them at the public’s expense.
In yesterday’s hearing before Senior Justice Isaacs, lawyer Sonia Timothy confirmed her appointment as counsel for Lacroix and held brief for Damian Whyte who is representing O’Brien.
The judge said that the earliest available date on his calendar was March 12, 2018.
Timothy and Crown prosecutor Erica Duncombe accepted the date.
It is alleged that the pair, sometime on July 26, broke into Dr David Allen’s home. The armed robbery took place around 6.30am at Dr Allen’s West Bay Street home. Dr Allen’s daughter and grandchildren were also at home during the invasion, however no one was physically harmed.
It is alleged that they, while armed with a handgun, robbed Dr Allen of a $1,500 gold Cuban link chain, a $200 gold Seiko watch and a 32-inch TV set valued at $250.
The men are also accused of robbing Marie Allen Caroll of $100 cash, an American passport, a Land wallet that contained bank cards, her Bahamian driver’s license, a PlayStation 4 gaming console and assorted games worth $650, and $1,200 Mac Book Pro laptop and two jewellery boxes that contained $300 worth of assorted jewellery.
Concerning the lesser charge of receiving, it is alleged that the stolen jewellery boxes were found in their possession. If convicted at trial, they could face up to life imprisonment.
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