Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Police followed a trail of blood to make arrests in connection with a random and violent robbery — but it appears that blood may have belonged to one the two robbers, not the victim.
Crown attorney Garry Rainnie said that one of the intoxicated robbers had either cut himself or his accomplice, a clue that helped police make a pair of arrests.
“There was a significant amount of blood loss from one of the attackers,” Rainnie said as one of the accused made a court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
Police report that, around 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday, a man called police to report that he’d been robbed by two men on the 300-block of 13th Street.
It’s alleged that the victim was punched and kicked by one of the men as he was robbed of cash and his cellphone.
Police say two suspects were arrested a short time later at an apartment two blocks away from the crime scene.
Further details of the attack were shared on Tuesday when one of the arrested men made a court appearance.
Rainnie said that one of the attackers had kicked the victim in the head several times, and the victim was threatened with death if he told police.
The other assailant had wielded a knife, Rainnie said, but was so intoxicated that he badly cut either himself or his fellow robber.
The cut was bad enough to cause “significant” blood loss.
The victim had also suffered injuries that included cuts, but it’s not clear if they resulted from the beating or the knife.
A short time later, police were called to an apartment where the resident had asked officers to remove a man she shared the suite with.
Police followed a blood trail up the steps to the apartment and, inside, they found two men who matched a description supplied by the robbery victim.
One of the men had the victim’s cellphone and a bloody knife was found in the sink.
Rainnie said the victim will be able to identify the robbers using a photo lineup, and both suspects remain in custody as their cases were adjourned to Thursday so that can be arranged.
Andrew Synyshyn, the lawyer who represents one of the accused, suggests the case isn’t as clear-cut as the Crown suggests.
There are contradictory descriptions of the robbers, he said, and there was a party at the apartment so someone else could have brought the items that were found there.
The allegations haven’t been proven in court.
Nicholas Joseph Halcrow-Jewels, 18, and Justin Lee Verinder, 31, each face a robbery charge and a charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Halcrow-Jewels is charged with possession of a knife and Verinder a screwdriver.
Halcrow-Jewels also faces a charge of uttering threats.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition October 17, 2012
We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.
You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.
Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.
The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Police followed a trail of blood to make arrests in connection with a random and violent robbery — but it appears that blood may have belonged to one the two robbers, not the victim.
Crown attorney Garry Rainnie said that one of the intoxicated robbers had either cut himself or his accomplice, a clue that helped police make a pair of arrests.
Already subscribed? Login to view full article.
Not yet a subscriber? Click Here to Signup
Police followed a trail of blood to make arrests in connection with a random and violent robbery — but it appears that blood may have belonged to one the two robbers, not the victim.
Crown attorney Garry Rainnie said that one of the intoxicated robbers had either cut himself or his accomplice, a clue that helped police make a pair of arrests.
A subscription to the Brandon Sun Newspaper is required to view this article. Please update your user information if you are already a newspaper subscriber.
Most Popular
Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments
You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.