Case put off for purse- snatcher

ASt Ann man, who allegedly stole a woman’s purse at a church meeting, had his case put off until December 4 when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Forty- four- year- old welder Desburn Cole, of a Philadelphia address in St Ann and a Montego Bay address in St James, is charged with simple larceny, committed against Novelette Malcolm. His case was deferred because the prosecution’s case file was incomplete.

Allegations are that, on July 1, at approximately 8: 20 p. m., Malcolm placed her purse on a bench inside the church, where she was attending a meeting. Cole entered, grabbed the bag and ran off.

The next day, acting on information received, Malcolm went to the Savanna- la- mar Police Station in Westmoreland and made a report. Following further investigations, Cole was taken into custody and underwent an identification parade in Montego Bay. He was later arrested and charged.

“Is the file ready?” Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tie asked Clerk of the Court Reginald England.

“No, your honour, we are asking for two weeks to get a further state- ment from the complainant,” said England.

“I am going to set it for mention on December 4. The file needs to be ready then,” RM Tie declared, as she extended Cole’s bail.