Manhunt on for motorcycle bandits striking at lone pedestrians, cyclists

A special team of seven Police detectives are hunting a pair of motorcycle-riding robbers who prey on lone victims late at night.

The team was set up to catch the crooks after four robberies in the space of two days including three within one hour, early Tuesday morning. Acting Chief Insp. Raphael Simons said the first robbery occurred at 10.45 p.m on Sunday night. A man on a moped was followed along Dundonald Street before being cut off at the speed bump by New Testament Church of God.

The pillion passenger jumped off and demanded money before making off with a wallet. At 12.45 a.m. Tuesday, a 53-year-old was riding east on South Road and noticed the pair following him. As he headed up McGall?s Hill he was pulled to the ground and kicked in the face and back.

He suffered four broken ribs, a punctured lung and bruises and was robbed of money and property.

About 1.30 a.m. a 30-year-old man was walking along Valley Road, Paget when the pair approached. The man was grabbed by the throat, robbed and thrown to the ground. Just 15 minutes later, a man was robbed while waiting for a taxi by the Heron Bay MarketPlace.

Both suspects are about six feet tall. One is slim, light skinned and wore a red jacket while the other is stocky, dark skinned and wore dark clothing. They were travelling on a dark coloured bike.

Acting Chief Insp. Simons advised the public to travel in pairs where possible and wait in well-lit, populated areas. He said: ?We believe these crimes are purely opportunistic. We are following some good leads which we believe will result in the eventual arrest of the perpetrators.?

Witnesses or those with information should call Det. Sgt. Barry Richards on 299-4591 or Acting Chief Insp. Simons on 299 4580.

Bike thieves are still targeting Scoopys as Police issued a call over the weekend for bike owners to lock their cycles with a supplementary lock, and park them in a well-lit place.

The call came after ten cycles were stolen over the weekend. Police also reported 12 road traffic collisions, two resulting in injury, and seven break-ins over the weekend period.

Woman denies trying to bribe Customs officer

A Devonshire woman accused of attempting to bribe a Customs officer pleaded not guilty in Magistrates? Court yesterday.

Kathy Faries, 52, of South Road in Devonshire, was accused of failing to declare the true value of her goods to a Customs officer, and then attempting to bribe the officer.

Faries is represented by lawyer Mark Pettingill. She was bailed for $1,000 and will be tried on April 6 in Magistrates? Court.

Cosby cleared of sex charge

Charges of alleged sexual misconduct against American comedian Bill Cosby have been dropped due to insufficient credible and admissible evidence.

The allegations were made by a former employee at Temple University, Mr. Cosby?s alma mater, who claimed that Mr. Cosby fondled her at his suburban mansion after giving her medication that made her dizzy. But the decision came too late for the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) who were forced to cancel their 85th anniversary dinner on Friday night ?due to circumstances out of their control?.

Mr. Cosby was set to be the guest speaker at this prestigious event at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel. When contacted yesterday afternoon, the BUT had not yet heard about the allegations against Mr. Cosby being dismissed and simply said the dinner had been cancelled nevertheless.

Spice Valley declares war on math phobia

Pupils at Spice Valley Middle School have declared war on math phobia in the eight annual school Math-a-Thon starting at the school this morning.

The competition, which culminates on Friday, is designed to promote middle school mathematics achievements by enhancing problem solving ability, challenging students? math skills, reinforcing comprehension skills and developing mathematical self confidence as part of ongoing efforts to eradicate math phobia.

Contestants view the problems via the use of television monitors while the audience has an opportunity to view the same questions on the large overhead screen. The Math-a-Thon questions are designed by each year level math teacher and mirror the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards for grades six to eight.

The competition starts at 8.45 a.m. each day and lasts until about 10 a.m. and members of the public have been invited to attend and see the math-wizards in action. The event culminates on Friday when house teams made up of students from every year level play the final round, hoping to secure enough points reign victorious!

Churches targeted in recent break-ins

The Bermuda Police Service warned all churches yesterday to ensure their premises are secure after a spate of recent break-ins targeting places of worship.

Police were called to the Devonshire Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Robert?s Avenue on Monday after church members appeared to have surprised one would-be thief in the act. Members were entering the church after a function when it appeared someone had broken in to the lower section of the church. The thief escaped.

The incident made the third time that church has been targeted. ?The Police have noticed an increased number of incidents of individuals breaking into places of worship,? a Police spokesman said.

?We are reminding church administrators at all times to check premises to ensure they are well-lit, with all windows and doors locked and secured. We are imploring church administrators to not leave large sums of money on the premises.? For more information, please contact the Crime Prevention Unit on 295-0011.?

Judge Greaves halts two trials in as many days due to sickness, injury

A drugs trial was adjourned before it got started when a defence lawyer fell down a flight of steps and sprained her ankle.

Lawyer Victoria Pearman had the accident yesterday morning, moments before the trial of Michael Troy Berkeley, 43, of no fixed abode, was due to take place in Supreme Court.

The accident took place near the Juris law chambers on Parliament Street on her way to court.

On Monday, Berkeley pleaded not guilty to importing heroin and cannabis on May 10, 2004 and also denied possessing the drugs with intent to supply. Berkeley told Mr. Justice Carlisle Greaves yesterday morning: ?She fell down sir.?

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman told the ten-woman, two-man jury that Ms Pearman had an accident and was conveyed by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment.

One of the prosecution's main witnesses, Det. Con. Windol Thorpe was scheduled to leave the Island today and could not change his plans. ?It seems we are not going to get anywhere in this matter,? Mr. Justice Greaves told the jury. ?I have no choice but to discharge you.?

Berkeley was released on bail to reappear for the next arraignment's session. The trial is not expected to get before a jury again until September. ?Well jurors, it's happened again,? Mr. Justice Greaves said. ?This is how the whole year has been.?

On Monday, Mr. Greaves called a halt to the attempted murder trial of Brandon Barnes Brockett because of a juror?s serious illness.

Brockett is charged with trying to kill Jelani (Roots) Butterfield in Dockyard more than two years ago. The 11-woman, one man jury was first seated two weeks ago but one juror fell ill.

When Crown counsel Wayne Caines worried the jurors? personal lives were being affected by the lengthy adjournments, but Mr. Justice Greaves said: ?People get sick. We are all human beings.?

Minister gets petition on road deaths

Almost five and a half thousand people have signed a petition in a bid to amend the laws which govern road traffic fatalities on the Island.

The petition was launched by the family of Tyaisha Cox, who died in August, 2003 after being knocked down on a school crossing outside of Purvis Primary School, Warwick.

The Minister of Transport Dr. Ewart Brown was handed the petition on Monday, by Tyaisha?s mother Margret Moor and her grandfather Michael Cox.

In total, 5,433 people signed the petition in an attempt to change the law. Dr. Ewart Brown said he would hand the petition over to the Premier Alex Scott.

?I?m happy and I am saddened by the fact that the family is still trying to bring closure to this matter,? he said. ?It is a very important psychological step for people who have experienced the kind of loss that they have.?

Melanie Jane Wedgwood, 29, of Hillview Road, Warwick, has been charged with driving without due care and attention. She has not been required to enter a plea.

Man denies stealing two cycles

A 22-year-old St. George?s man was released on bail on Monday after pleading not guilty to two counts of cycle theft.

Justin Dane Ingemann of Ferry Road was accused of stealing a black Scoopy cycle valued at $2,000 between March 31 and April 1, 2002. The cycle was the property of Bilal Shakir.

Mr. Ingemann has also pleaded not guilty to stealing a black Malaguti cycle valued at $1,800 from Phillip Gee sometime between January 28 and February 5, 2005.

Magistrate Archibald Warner set bail at $1,000 and scheduled a trial date for April 13.

Upper court trial for drugs charge

A man appearing in Magistrates? Court on drugs charges was allowed to switch to a Supreme Court trial by Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Kevin Wayne Smith of Union Street was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to supply, and a Magistrates? Court trial had been set for February 14 and 15, 2005.

Defence lawyer Shade Subair said on Monday that another man, Dwight Kerr, had been implicated in the matter, but had left the island ?with no intention of return? ? resulting in the delay of trial.

And Mr. Smith?s original lawyer, Llewellyn Peniston, had come off record as his legal counsel. Ms Subair explained that Mr. Smith had chosen Magistrates? Court instead of Supreme Court without the benefit of a lawyer?s advice.

And she asked if Magistrate Warner would allow Mr. Smith to change courts. Magistrate Warner granted the request, along with a Short Form Preliminary Inquiry. Mr. Smith is to appear in the Supreme Court on February 25, 2005.

Carousel Liquors robbed last week

Police are investigating a robbery at Carousel Liquors on Front Street in Pembroke last Thursday night.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said the 73-year-old employee told Police that at about 7.50 p.m. a man entered the store and got two bottles of beer and a bottle of grape soda from the refrigerator.

Mr. Caines said the man presented the items at the counter and then asked the sales assistant for some cigarettes.

?As the elderly employee turned around to get the cigarettes, the suspect reached into the cash register and grabbed about $70 in cash before pushing past another employee and running West on Front Street, making good his escape,? he said.

The suspect is described as a brown skinned male, about five feet seven inches tall, of thin build with unkempt ginger coloured hair.

He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a blue jacket with the ?Adidas? symbol in white on the back and a white stripe on the sleeve.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident, or anyone with information to contact the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011.