By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Wednesday, April 22 2009

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SEARCHING FOR CLUES: Crime scene investigators in full forensic garb, search for clues on the scene where Sterling Trotman, 47, was shot dead at Buil...

Twenty-one year-old Ron Cox broke down in tears yesterday after being sentenced to 12 months hard labour by a Port-of-Spain magistrate when he was convicted on three of six charges.

Magistrate Brian Dabideen of the Eleventh court sentenced him to 12 months hard labour for stealing a cd player valued at $1,500; 12 months hard labour for breaking and entering and stealing a DVD player valued around $1,700; and a fine of $750 or three months hard labour in default, for being in possession of a knife. The three terms are to run consecutively.

It is alleged that on January 29 last, at Unity Road, Diego Martin, Cox entered the compound of Wesley Francis and stole the DVD player. Sometime during the course of that incident, he also proceeded to break into the car of Leon Miller which was parked nearby, and removed a Pioneer model cd player.

Cox pleaded guilty to all three charges, and tried to explain to the magistrate that he stole the items because he was unemployed at the time, and was desperately trying to provide for himself and his pregnant girlfriend.

However, Dabideen was unwilling to accept this argument pointing out that he lived at home under the care of his mother, and there were several other options available for him to gain an income. After some deliberation, the magistrate said he was forced to place a custodial sentence on the young man because it was not believed that a fine or compensation for the items removed would be paid by the accused.

Cox also faces three other charges stemming from an incident which occurred on April 13 (Easter Monday) when he was shot by police after allegedly breaking into the Diego Martin home of Douglas Camacho. Cox was accompanied by Augustine Woods, who was also shot in the abdomen by officers. Both men were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital immediately afterwards, where Woods was pronounced dead on arrival.