The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO men and one woman were remanded to prison yesterday over allegations they robbed a man at gunpoint of over $500 last week.

Letero Pyfrom, 25, Ashley Minnis, 29, and Matina Minnis, 37, were accused of using a .380 pistol to rob Derick Hepburn of $544.90 on July 16. According to the prosecution, the money belonged to Coca Cola.

Yesterday, the accused were also charged with dishonestly receiving the stolen funds as well as a $100 brown bag and a $190 Samsung cell phone from a woman that same day. Minnis was further charged with two counts of unlicenced firearm possession and one count of illegal ammunition possession, after he was found with the weapon in question, as well as six rounds of .380 ammunition.

During the hearing before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday, none of the defendants were required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to October 21 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Bail was denied and they were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Service until trial. However the judge made arrangements for Matina Minnis, who is a new mother, to be allowed a breast pump so she can collect milk for her newborn baby while in custody.

Yesterday, another man and a teenager also appeared before Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt after they were accused of using a handgun to rob Jean Alexandre of a $450 iPhone and $550 gold chain.

The prosecution alleged Joshua Williams, 21, and Antario Rolle, 18, committed the act on July 16. They further alleged Rolle dishonestly received the stolen phone that same day.

According to initial police reports, shortly after 8am, a man was walking along Baillou Hill Road near Lewis Street, when he was accosted by a gunman who robbed him of his cell phone and gold chain.

During the arraignment, neither defendant was required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to October 21 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Rolle and Williams were denied bail and remanded into custody in the interim.

The accused have the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.