TUESDAY, JULY 10: A teenager and a young man who were allegedly robbed at knifepoint had planned to buy drugs from one of their alleged assailants, a court heard.
A Supreme Court jury watched a video interview of Ezra Ararat today who told police officers he saw his brother involved in a scuffle with Victoria DeCoute, 17 and a light skinned man, Kenneth Williams, 22, on August 27.
He said he believed the altercation was a setup.
Mr Ararat, 25, his brother Ezra Williams, 27 and Zharrin Simmons, 20, deny robbing the pair at knifepoint on Hermitage Road that night and stealing a BlackBerry cellphone and jewellery.
In the police interview, Mr Ararat told police he was at his Boundary Crescent home with his brother when they walked to Hermitage Road.
He said Ms DeCoute and Kenneth Williams were going to be meeting his brother by SAL Ltd to “buy weed”.
Mr Ararat said when they arrived at the meeting place, the complainants weren’t there so he decided to walk to Belvin’s to buy alcohol.
“I was walking back and I saw a big scuffle across the street.
“It was my brother and the guy and the girl.”
Mr Ararat told the court he didn’t know Kenneth Williams’ name, but he knew him.
He also admitted he knew Ms DeCoute because she was his friend on Facebook.
“So I saw the guy and the girl and my brother.
“I pulled her off my brother and then this guy came and chopped me.
“My brother was on the ground and the yellow skin guy was on top of him and Victoria was trying to kick him so I pulled her off.”
Mr Ararat again said the pair was meeting his brother to buy marijuana.
Asked by Detective Constable Jason Robinson how he knew that information, Mr Ararat said: “My brother told me that, he was going to sell it to them.”
As far as his role in the altercation, Mr Ararat said: “My brother got off the ground and I pushed Victoria off.
“I turned around and somebody chopped me.
“I looked at my hand and my bone was sticking out.
“I immediately jumped into a jeep and went to hospital.
“I’m not sure if it was the same guy who chopped me or someone else.”
Mr Ararat said when he left the scene, the scuffle was still going on.
He denied searching Kenneth Williams’ pockets and stealing a cellphone, cash and jewellery.
“Somebody tried to set somebody up.
“I don’t know if it was my brother setting them up or them setting him up, but I got chopped.”
Asked if his co-accused Ms Simmons was at the scene, Mr Ararat said: “Zharrin Simmons wasn’t there.”
The trial continues.