Friday, August 21, 2009

Graff diamond heist:

The two men appeared in the dock flanked by five prison officers amid heightened security at the court.

They are also both charged with possessing handguns during the robbery at the prestigious New Bond Street store.

Beyene, of Lilestone Street, St John's Wood, north London, and Calderwood, of no fixed address, spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.

Calderwood, who has short straight red hair combed flat on his head, wore a long-sleeved white T-shirt for the 10-minute hearing. Beyene, who wore a grey short-sleeved T-shirt and has heavily-tattooed forearms, looked briefly at his parents who sat in the public gallery.

Anne Packer, chairwoman of the bench, remanded the two men in custody and ordered them to appear at Kingston Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on September 1.

Solicitors acting on behalf of the two alleged robbers made no representation in court. There was no application for bail.

A huge manhunt was launched after the audacious raid on the central London jeweller two weeks ago. CCTV pictures of two men talking their way past security guards before robbing the shop have been beamed around the world.

The gang forced a woman member of staff to fill a bag with 43 pieces of jewellery, including earrings, necklaces and watches, worth almost £40 million.


They used a series of getaway cars and a motorcycle to escape across the capital, firing two shots in the process. Another suspect arrested on Thursday in connection with the raid remains in custody being questioned by Flying Squad detectives.

A 50-year-old man who was held last week in Ilford, east London, has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Speaking after the 10-minute hearing, defence solicitor Antonie Xavier said the prosecution alleges the two defendants were the men who undertook the robbery.

Dr Xavier, who represents Beyene, said his client denies any involvement in the robbery.

He said: "It is totally denied. The CCTV shows quite clearly he could not be the person. He has always denied that he was ever near there. This is a shot in the dark."

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