Often charged, robber finally pleads guilty

In court news, a young man often charged but seldom convicted has finally become the subject of a negative verdict. Today eighteen-year-old Francis Petillo pleaded guilty to one of three outstanding charges of robbery and was fined five thousand dollars or in default five years in jail. Petillo’s victim, Theodora Andrews, told police that he approached her walking his bicycle on Vernon Street and tried to snatch her gold chain. After a scuffle in which Petillo punched her in the face and threw her to the ground, he finally succeeded in taking the jewellery. But it turns out that Andrews knew her assailant as someone who had done construction work for her and that led to his undoing. Among Petillo’s previous run-ins with the law are a charge of murder that was dropped, as well as a recently dismissed rape charge. A charge of attempted murder is still pending against Petillo in the April 2004 shooting of Philip Gallaty. In addition to the five thousand dollar fine, Petillo was also assessed an additional one hundred dollars for damage to property, namely the tearing of Ms. Andrews’ dress.