WESTERN BUREAU:

Three St James men who were arrested and charged in connection with the theft of a woman's cellular phone in May have been remanded in custody until July 28, to allow one of the defendants time to get legal representation.

Ewen Doyle and Keith Forbes, of Montego Bay addresses, are charged with robbery with aggravation committed against Alexia Reid, while Christopher Wedderburn, also of Montego Bay, is charged with receiving stolen property. They were remanded in custody following their appearance in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

The allegations are that on May 8, at approximately 11 p.m., Reid was walking along Barnett Street in Montego Bay when she saw two men along the road.

ratchet knife

One of the men, armed with a ratchet knife, approached Reid and robbed her of her handbag and BlackBerry phone and escaped. Reid reported the matter to the police, and Doyle and Forbes were later pointed out in an identification parade.

It is further alleged that on June 12, acting on information, the investigating officer went to the Charles Gordon Market and saw Wedderburn with a cellular phone, which was identified as Reid's. Wedderburn was subsequently arrested and charged.

On Monday, presiding magistrate Wilson Smith was told that, despite the prosecution's readiness to take the case to trial, Wedderburn had not yet got a lawyer to represent him.

"Don't you have a lawyer?" RM Smith asked Wedderburn.

"I cannot afford a lawyer, Your Honour," Wedderburn replied.

"That is why you have legal aid. If you do not have the money, you do not pay, but let the clerk of court know," said RM Smith, before setting the case to be mentioned on July 28.