'Eat-ah-food' fined $3000

A Chaguanas man expressed fear before a magistrate yesterday to leave his home because he feels he could be shot. But it was away from that home that he was caught red handed stealing items from a vehicle at three o'clock last Wednesday morning. He pleaded guilty to larceny, and will have to pay a fine of $3000 - $1000 immediately - or spend six months in jail. Another man who was with him when the police struck was able to flee and escape arrest.

Responding to senior magistrate Jo-Anne Connor in the San Fernando Court on why he committed the crime, 26-year old Aaron Francis of Tobago Road, Enterprise, said, “Your worship, where I living, police tell me if you leave meh home you could get shoot.” Explaining that he is afraid to venture outside to look for work, Francis said,“Well, ah friend tell me if I want to eat ah food. Well, I get caught. I did the act.”

Francis told senior magistrate Connor that so bad is the crime situation in Enterprise, he cannot go out to look for work. Francis appeared before the magistrate charged with larceny of two weed-wackers, two speakers, CD player, amplifier and two eight-inch speaker boxes.

Police prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said that at about 3 am on Wednesday last, police on patrol at Hillcrest Gardens, San Fernando, came upon Francis and the other man s removing items from a vehicle parked on the road. The man ran, he said, but police arrested Francis. The items, valued $17,500, were recovered. WPC Nola Valdez David charged Francis.,

Connor told Francis before passing sentence that stealing is not the alternative to one’s inability to find work.