“One of the men made his escape by swimming away”

Justice Charles Quin last Tuesday (29) found Andy Myles guilty of one count of burglary when he and another man broke into the home of an elderly woman, Mrs. Delores Rollar, in Magellan Quay around midnight.

Jewellery, including a gold pendant was stolen from Mrs. Rollar along with cash and other valuables. Myles and the other man (who was never caught) and wearing masks, woke up the victim making her open her safe. When the alarm immediately sounded the two men fled.

The RCIPS were able to respond immediately to the 911 call as an unmarked police patrol car was fortunately in the area. They spotted two men walking along the road nearby wearing dark coloured clothing with hoods and their faces covered. One of the officers got out of the car and shouted, “Stop! Police!” and as he did the suspects took off. They jumped into a canal and both disobeyed a police order to ‘get out of the water.’ One of the men made his escape by swimming away but the other man came back to the bank and was helped out of the water by one of the policemen.

The police officer recognised the suspect as Andy Myles who, although he admitted to the court that it was indeed him the police had helped out of the water, he had not committed the burglary. Myles says that he ran away from the police when they shouted out as earlier that evening he had been attacked by several men in West Bay and he was afraid it was them as the police did not identify themselves. Myles said he had “no clue about any burglary” and “wouldn’t do it to a lady like that.” He claimed not to have jumped into the canal but to have fallen in when he tried to get on a boat to avoid the men who were chasing him. He said however when he realised it was the police he came up from the water, “nice and smooth”.

However, with some of the stolen property and items of clothing nearby, containing Myles’ DNA as well as his close proximity to the burgled home; the fact that he had been seen with the second man by the police before he attempted to escape, all convinced Judge Quinn to conclude Myles was not being truthful.

In summing up, Justice Quin said, “When I consider all the evidence as well as the combination of circumstances I am satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of burglary with another person who has still not been apprehended and is not before
this Court.”