One in jail, one gets bail

Devon Edwards of Piarco was unsuccessful in his bail application when he reappeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Court, where he and Steven Douglas of St James, first appeared on Monday, on nine firearm and ammunition possession charges.

Douglas was granted bail in the sum of $750,000 with a surety to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace III and is to surrender his passport as well as report to the st James Police station every Monday and Thursday between the hours of 6 am to 6 pm. Both men are represented by senior Counsel Sophia Chote and attorney Trevor Clarke.

Edwards, 36, is jointly charged with Douglas for allegedly being in possession of four pistols and several rounds of assorted ammunition, on October 5, at Uriah Butler Highway. He served 14 years in the Defence Force, and has one pending matter in the Scarborough Magistrates Court for attempted murder and firearms and ammunition possession.

In her request that bail be denied, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul said the state’s primary concern was that Edwards could commit another offence, as she reminded the Chief Magistrate that he had the three charges pending in the Tobago courts, which were relaid only in April, noting as well that the men were “caught red handed” last week by the police with the guns.

She produced station diary extracts to emphasise her submission on the strength of the evidence to be adduced by the prosecution, adding also that investigations into the recent arrest were still ongoing. “No amount of (bail) conditions can prevent the accused from committing an offence while on bail,” she said. Honore-Paul did not object to bail being granted to Douglas.