Victim identifies robber as childhood friend

In court news, a twenty-two year old Belize City man has been convicted of robbery. Anthony Crawford of Rasta Street was found guilty by Magistrate Margaret McKenzie. The defendant’s problem was that he made the mistake of trying to grab the chain of a woman who knew him well. The victim, Darlene Martinez, told the court that while walking down Tibruce Street on the night of May ninth she felt someone grab her from behind. When she turned around and saw Crawford, she reminded him that they had grown up in the same yard. That did not stop her assailant, who struggled to grab Martinez’s chain, while at the same time an accomplice ripped two bracelets off her hand. Crawford eventually pulled out a knife, but his victim refused to give up her jewellery… and after a crowd gathered he eventually took off. Based on the identification provided by Martinez, Crawford was arrested by police. He will be sentenced on September ninth.