Sandys man beaten in attempted robbery

Two would-be robbers pounced on a Sandys man as he was walking home from work early yesterday morning.

Police said that while the culprits left empty-handed, the victim had to be treated at hospital as a result of his injuries.

The incident occurred on Freeport Drive in Sandys parish, around 3.45 a.m. The victim, a 38-year-old man who is employed at an area establishment, told Police that he left work around 2.30 a.m. to walk home.

In the area of the cement factory, an unknown car drove up beside him and two men exited the vehicle, with one of the men approaching the victim and demanding his wallet.

The victim refused to give the suspect his wallet and, as a result, was punched in the face and body. Both suspects then escaped. The victim sustained facial injuries including a cut above his right eye, bruising and a broken nose as well as bruising to his hands and arms.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance for further treatment.

The suspects are described only as two men — one dark skinned. Inquiries into this incident are underway.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to this incident or anyone with any information to contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.

Teen still missing

Police are still searching for 15-year-old Dwayne Hassan. He was last seen around 8 a.m. on Monday, July 28 in Devonshire.

He is described as a brown-skinned male, approximately six feet tall and weighing 140 pounds with dark brown hair.

Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Child Victims Unit on 295-0011.

Man opts for Supreme Court trial

A man charged with multiple offences including assault, using threatening words and having offensive weapons in his possession appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday but requested to have his case heard in the Supreme Court.

Kenneth Richardson, 43, of Pembroke, was charged with assaulting Kiani Caisey on July 19th. He was also charged with threatening. Richardson was also charged with having offensive weapons including a wrench and a crow bar.

Magistrate Juan Wolffe read the charges to Richardson and asked him if he wanted to be tried in Magistrates' or Supreme Court.

Richardson asked for his case to be tried in Supreme Court, which means he did not have to enter a plea, as the case must now be heard in front of a jury. The trial was set for October 21.

Club Med now clear of asbestos

All the asbestos at the former Club Med resort in St. George's has now been removed, Minister of Works and Engineering Derrick Burgess announced yesterday.

"The asbestos is now in storage at the Government Quarry in conditions that have been approved by the Department of Environmental Health," he said.

The site is being prepared for implosion on August 25 at 10 a.m. by demolition experts D.H. Griffin. A 1,000-metre area around the building will be cordoned off, with the Bermuda Police and Bermuda Regiment assisting to ensure safety.

Tourist couple fined $2,000 for cannabis

A couple from New York, visiting on the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship, was fined $1,000 each for possession of cannabis, when they appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The Court heard from Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Michael McColm, that on Tuesday, Police boarded the cruise ship at Penno's Wharf in St. George's with a canine to do a random inspection.

While standing outside the room of Harriet Paradis, age 52, and Frank Alfonso Schiavo, age 55, the dog reacted. Police knocked on the door but there was no answer. They were then given permission to enter the room and the dog led them to a safe in the room.

When the safe was unlocked a package containing small plant-like material was obtained.

Police later arrested the couple and questioned them. The couple admitted that the item belonged to them and were taken to Southside Police station. The plant-like substance was later identified as 5.06 grams of cannabis.

The teary-eyed twosome apologised to the court yesterday as their fines were handed down.

Impaired cyclist injured in crash

A bruised and battered New Jersey guest worker was yesterday disqualified from driving for 12 months after admitting to impaired driving when he appeared in Magistrates' Court.

The court heard from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Michael McColm that early yesterday morning, Franklin Davis, 28, from New Jersey was involved in a single vehicle collision, as he struck a wall on Lane Hill.

Police attended the scene and observed Davis to be unsteady with blood around his mouth and the smell of intoxicants coming from his breath.

He was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment and then arrested.

Davis was given a breathalyser test which revealed he had 181mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Magistrate Juan Wolffe asked Davis if he had anything to say, he said: "I am extremely sorry, I normally don't do this. I was veered off the road from another driver."

Mr. Wolffe said: "If you were not drunk, then you would have been more aware of the other driver."

He then fined David $1,000 disqualified him from driving all vehicles for 12 months and issued him ten demerit points.

Suzuki car stolen

Police are looking for a white Suzuki Maruti Alto, licence plate number 31238 which was taken without the owner's consent early yesterday morning.

Around 3.05 a.m., Police received a report. The complainant stated that sometime between 10.30 p.m. Wednesday and 1 a.m. yesterday, an unknown culprit removed the car, which was parked on Reid Street in the City of Hamilton.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of this vehicle, is encouraged to contact the Roads Policing Unit on 295-0011.