Local man found guilty of stealing Treasure Island safe
(CNS): A West Bay man was found guilty Monday of stealing a safe containing over $100,000 from Treasure Island resort more than four years ago, following a trial earlier this year. Brandon Liberal (30) was convicted by visiting judge, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, based on evidence from a witness who said Liberal had confessed to him, as well as telephone records, CCTV, the discovery of the getaway car at an address where Liberal stayed, and other circumstantial evidence. The safe was stolen by two men in the early morning of 6 May but the second suspect has never been charged.
In her ruling, which was read to the court by Justice Charles Quin, the judge said she found the evidence of the witness to be truthful. The witness had testified that Liberal told him he had stolen the safe and opened it with a blow torch on the beach, while they discussed another potential criminal enterprise.
She said that despite his less than “squeaky clean character” and bad memory, as result of being an habitual crack cocaine user, there was no motive for him to lie and his “frankness and seeming honesty commended himself to me”.
The crown witness’s evidence was supported by telephone records that placed Liberal at the crime scene at the right time and showed a series of calls between himself and another man, named Tareeq Crawford, who has not been charged with the crime. The witness claims that Liberal told him Crawford was the second man in the daring burglary.
The conviction was also supported by CCTV footage and the discovery of the getaway car, as well as a glove found at the place where the defendant stayed which appeared to be the exact match to one worn by the robber on the video footage.
Liberal’s purchase of a new car and a new motorbike just days after the robbery also seemed to support his guilt, though the judge said she did not need to consider that evidence as she already believed the crown had proved its case with the other circumstantial evidence.
During the trial Liberal had taken the stand and denied telling the witness he had committed the burglary. He had accused the prosecution of fabricating the telephone records and rejected the crown’s assertions that he lived at the house in Apple Blossom Village where the getaway car and matching glove were found. Liberal had told the court that he had never committed a burglary in his life, but the judge said she did not believe him and the crown had presented compelling evidence that he committed the offences as charged.
Liberal is currently serving a seven-year sentence for armed robbery in the car park at BritCay House in October 2012, some five months after this crime, where he and three other men, including Tareeq Crawford, were accused of holding up a security van and stealing over $8,000. The men were arrested soon after when one of the robbers, Manuel Carter, left a pile of incriminating evidence, including the gun, near the abandoned getaway car.
Liberal is due to be sentenced in relation to the Treasure Island burglary next month.
4 years it took.
Liberal told the court he had never committed a burglary in his life – whilst serving 7 years for an armed robbery. I guess he has a lawyers sense of the difference. “no M’Lady, I would never stoop so low as to commit a mere burglary – daylight armed robbery is my game”
Goes to show that RCIPS investigations never stop and because cases aren’t solved overnight, means that’s the end…this case is one of those examples. some really good results are being seen in the court despite the perception that the police is incompetent they continue to be resilient and plug on despite the criticisms…
Deportation order. Express, on the double, for them both.
Liberal the Loot Liberator loses his Liberty? Say it ain’t so…..
We can only hope that the judge is “Liberal” with his sentence.
ironic title
Someone stole treasure from treasure island. Capitan kid would be proud.
“i would have gotten away with it too, if it wasnt’ for those meddling kids”
What the heck was TI doing keeping $100K in a safe in the first place and where did they get the money from?
I agree. Why would a business like TI have that large amount of amount at hand??? Seems very un-business like!!
Well knowing what TI was like four years ago I can think of one explanation.
However, I lived in the dump for a year and during that time a lot of people (myself included) paid their monthly rent in cash so if he timed the heist right that’s more likely where the money came from. What date was the robbery?
280 rooms renting monthly to hospitality and construction workers for $1000 a month, most unlikely to have a checking account or a credit card. I recall it happened over a weekend that folks were paying rent and they had not yet gone to the bank.
They were running the bars at the time as well. Very possible to have 100K on hand.
Good point…. but there is lots of unexplained cash sloshing around here.
Another one here for us eh??? the rape and pillaging of this place continues at the hands of this imported rabble!!!
jealous much?
I never knew that West Bay people had the name of Liberal. Are these people Caymanians ?
All imports.
What are you saying? there are no “Caymanian” criminals? Check Northward.
Not saying that, but this particular case is a foreign national like it or not…..suck it up.
LOL!!
Check 2003 status grants.
Thanks Mac for causing Caymanians to become genetically corrupted.
Maybe in their lucid moments, and whilst not otherwise engaged in crime, they change their names.
So West Bay people, don’t have children with people with other last names other than Ebanks, Bush or Powery is what you’re saying? Lol, this is a very ignorant statement and in case you were wondering, I’m a “ah doh kno how much upteen ah generation cay-man-ian”
And your name is anonymous?
Mr. EAnonymous to you, of the Bodden Town family branch.
Ho please what the names have to do with it that’s bull