BY RASBERT TURNER, Star Writer
spanish town
A 25-YEAR-OLD man accused of breaking into a policeman's house, tied him up and lit him ablaze with insecticide, was granted bail in the sum of $80,000 in the Spanish Town RM Court where he appeared on charges of burglary and assault occasioning bodily harm.
He is Ricardo 'Biggs' Riley of Young Street, Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
The court learnt that about 3 a.m. on October 4 last year, the complainant was at home in the Lauriston area, when five men broke into his house, proceeded to tie him up, sprayed him with insecticide and set him on fire. The policeman ran out the house upon being lit. The men then proceeded to rob the house of several items of jewellery, clothing, small appliances such as DVD Player, a tape recorder and made good their escape.
The policeman was later rescued by neighbours, and a report made to the Spanish Town Police. About 6 a.m. the same day, Riley was found in the nearby Rivoli area, with items of clothing belonging to the policeman. The court heard that he allegedly told the arresting officer that he was not alone in the robbery. He was subsequently charged by the police.
On previous occasions Riley attempted to plead guilty for receiving stolen property, but the RM would have none of it. However, when he reappeared last Wednesday, his lawyer, Hugh Faulknor, made a successful bail application, telling the court his client has been in custody for three months.
The attorney said the method used to identify his client was flawed as the police took him to the hospital and the complainant walked up to the jeep and pointed him out, and he was not given a formal ID parade.
The RM acceded to his request and granted Riley bail on condition that he report twice weekly to the Spanish Town Police Station and to keep the peace.
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