Man accused of robbery at Trotters granted $300k bail

A SAN Juan man held in connection with last week’s robbery at Trotters Restaurant on Maraval Road, Port of Spain, has been granted $300,000 bail and ordered to stay 300 metres away from the establishment.

Omarley Nurse, of Jo Jo Lane, was charged after midday on November 13, after six days in police custody. He appeared before Master Sarah de Silva on November 14 on two counts of assault and four counts of robbery with aggravation. He was given a cash bail alternative of $10,000.

Nurse was also ordered to report to the Barataria police station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, between 6 am and 6 pm, and have no communication with any of the alleged victims. The police recommended a summary trial and the matter was transferred to the Port of Spain district court when it will come up for hearing on January 23, 2025.

Late on Tuesday, the man’s attorneys threatened to apply for a writ of habeas corpus for his release.

The application was filed on November 13, hours after the police failed to respond to an 11.30 pm deadline in a pre-action protocol letter sent late Tuesday night.

On November 7, police held a Port of Spain man shortly after the 10.30 pm robbery at the restaurant. Officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol units responded to a call of a robbery in progress and went to Trotters where they were told the four suspects fled on foot towards the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Assisted by the Port of Spain Task Force, reports said police arrested one man on a street in St Clair. Police said cellphones and wallets were stolen from the seven patrons during the robbery.

In their letter, attorneys Keron Ramkhalwhan and Anwar Hosein said their client has been detained since November 7.

The attorneys said over five days, two interviews were done where he maintained his innocence, claiming he was with his girlfriend at the time of the robbery.

Since the incident, several businesses in the Woodbrook area have opted to close earlier because of the worsening crime situation.

Pappy's – Home of Brian's Fricken Chicken, a popular fast food restaurant, recently announced a change in its opening hours, citing the increasing crime rate as the reason.

The National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) also announced a change in opening hours for its Heritage library and public libraries.

On November 11, a notice said, “Given the early setting of the sun at this time of year, in the interest of the safety and well-being of staff, NALIS has adjusted its weekday closing time…”