Robber claims gunmen killed his family

The 37-year-old man who robbed a Chinese supermarket in La Brea told a magistrate that his family has been wiped out by gunmen.

The man, from Simeon Road in Petit Valley, appeared before Point Fortin magistrate Alicia Chankar on Thursday and pleaded guilty charged with robbery with aggravation. PC Andrews laid the charge.

The magistrate sentenced him to 36 months in jail.

Holding a gun, he and an accomplice walked in Welcome Supermarket at Majuba Road on Sunday.

They robbed the cashier, a Chinese national, of $5,000 then walked past the unarmed security guard at the entrance.

A report was made to South Western Division police and Cpl Thompson, PCs Seepersad and Andrews and WPC Homer make enquiries and later arrested the man.

On Thursday, he apologised for the crime.

He also told the magistrate that his family was killed, and he had “nothing” so he robbed the supermarket.

He was staying in Guapo on the outskirts of Point Fortin.