Vagrant jailed for theft

A homeless man with a criminal record dating back to the 1960s was sentenced to nine months imprisonment in Magistrates? Court yesterday for breaking and entering and theft.

Robert Hewey, 55, broke into Mayne?s Furniture Limited, Pembroke, on November 20, but was arrested by Police with 14 DVDs in his possession worth $257 before he could flee the scene.

An alcoholic, Hewey was barely able to stand and had his eyes shut for a large portion of the proceedings.

Crown counsel Juan Wolffe asked Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner for the case to be tried in the Supreme Court ? but the Mr. Warner wanted the matter dealt with immediately.

In handing down the sentence, Mr. Warner said he hoped Hewey would emerge from the period of his incarceration ?in considerably better shape? than when he entered.

Hewey also received a 90 day prison term for the possession of drug making equipment, although Mr. Warner ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Smith in court

Former Bermuda Housing Corporation property manager Terrence Smith?s $1.4 million fraud trial will take place in May, 2005.

1Smith, who was sacked following allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the quango, faces 49 charges of fraud reaching almost $1.4 million.

Smith appeared with his lawyer Liz Christopher briefly in the Supreme Court yesterday.

In August the Department of Public Prosecutions closed its investigation into the scandal, which involved the use of millions of dollars of public funds.

Sharpe enters not guilty plea

ZBM News journalist Mike Sharpe yesterday pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to another man during a crash in St. George?s.

Sharpe entered the plea before Chief Justice Richard Ground and will appear again in Supreme Court for mention on February 1.

Sharpe, 48, of Bridle Hill, Smith?s is charged with causing grievous bodily harm to James Woods and being over the legal drink drive limit of 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood when he was driving on Kindley Field Road earlier this year.

Drug charges denied

An 18-year-old charged with possession with intent to supply undisclosed amounts of cocaine, heroin and cannabis appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday to enter a plea.

Gavon Hollis, of Cottage Hill, Hamilton Parish entered pleas to three counts of possessing drugs with intent to supply contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply and not guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply. He then entered a guilty plea to possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

The Supreme Court is due to set a trial date and sentencing date for these matters in the new year.

Trial date set

Two Americans charged with attempted murder appeared in Supreme Court yesterday to have their trial date set for May, 2005.

Eric Jason Barney, 29, and Jemaine Lamar Baker, 22, are charged with the attempted murder of 30-year-old Theodore Wolffe, including assault with intent to rob him.

Defence lawyers Victoria Pearman and Elizabeth Christopher will represent the men during the May 3 trial. The alleged incident occurred on April 29, at the victim?s Hamilton Parish home. Police arriving at the scene found Mr. Wolffe with a severe cut on his forehead.