Darrel Humphreys & Augustus Harris denied bail after being charged with burglary on August 29

​Darrel Humphreys and Augustus Harris of Fond Cole’ were denied bail, after being arrested and charged with burglary with intent to steal, on August 29, 2016, when they were found in the business premises of Minya’s 7-11 in Canefield. Both men are now on remand at the Stock Farm Prison after Magistrate Pearl Williams upheld an application by the prosecution requesting that bail be denied.
 
The prosecution, led by Inspector Valda Powell objected to bail for both men. Powell told the court Humphreys is a serial offender, who is presently on bail for similar offences, and has re-offended. She said he has matters in court for October 17, 2016, November 18, 2016 and December 6, 2016. Powell told the court the prosecution fears that if bail was granted, Humphreys would “again re-offend.”
 
Humphreys who was not represented by legal counsel. In his defence, he told the court that he was embarrassed by the matter. He said, “I am on drugs, crack cocaine. I am embarrassed, it is very difficult for me. Friends influence me, it is not easy”. He said if bail was granted to him, he would always appear, as he always did for his other matter before the court.
 
But Magistrate Williams told him that the court had trusted him before. She added, “You have failed the system, plus you are on drugs from your own admission; you are easily influenced by friends, so bail is denied”.
 
In the matter against Harris, the prosecution told the court Harris was a “flight risk”, since he resides in Guadeloupe, and only came to Dominica for the funeral of his father one month ago.
 
Harris defended himself, saying that he resides in Dominica, and had only been to Guadeloupe for three weeks before his father’s death. He then gave several conflicting versions of his Guadeloupe trips, which prompted the Magistrate to tell him, “you are not consistent with what you are telling the court. You have strong ties in Guadeloupe, and you are clearly a flight risk, so bail is denied.”
 
The matter is set to be heard on December 12, 2016.