Beach cruiser robbers in jail

Harry Joseph

Two Belize City men are tonight on lockdown following an armed robbery a few weeks ago. Twenty-four-year-old Harry Joseph appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Clive Lino today where he was read two charges – harm and robbery with a firearm.  It is alleged that on July eighth, Joseph and an accomplice relieved thirty-four year old Rupert Garnett of a black beach cruiser bicycle at gunpoint.  During the ordeal Garnett was also pistol whipped.  In court this afternoon, Joseph pleaded not guilty to the charges, stating that the police concocted the entire story to implicate him in the crimes.  Despite his explanation, the self-employed vendor was denied bail due to the firearm charge.  He was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until September twenty-sixth.  Joseph joins twenty-one-year-old Kyle Chaplin, a resident of Mayflower Street, who was charged last Wednesday in connection with the same incident.