TT a lawless country

Forde-John opined that perhaps the reason for the rampant crime is the prevalence of guns, such that people can find these instruments of fear and death strewn about if one were to believe what the accused man told her. The accused, Tony Jeffrey, 28, of Springvale in Claxton Bay, told the court that he found a gun and six rounds of ammunition on the roadway in Claxton Bay on Wednesday.

Appearing before Magistrate Forde-John, Jeffrey was charged with unlawful possession of a Springfield Armoury pistol and six round of .40 ammunition. The court heard that police officers confronted Jeffrey at 3 pm at Cedar Hill Road. Officers in a marked police vehicle, received a wireless message and immediately proceeded to Cedar Hill, where they confronted Jeffrey who was standing on the road.

He was searched and in his front pants pocket, officers found the pistol and four brass-coloured and two silver-coloured bullets. PC Davin Nagessar of St Margaret’s Police Station, who laid the charge, showed the gun and ammunition to the defendant who acknowledged he (Jeffrey) found the items at the side of the road. Jeffrey’s attorney Ainsley Lucky told Magistrate Forde-John that his client is a married father of two.

Lucky said that Jeffrey had consumed a few drinks, found the gun not too far from where he was standing. “And, Your Worship, he was foolish to keep it,” Lucky said.

Magistrate Forde-John asked, “So he found the gun?” When Lucky replied in the affirmative, the magistrate asked rhetorically, “How come I don’t see guns on the ground?” The attorney chuckled.

“Perhaps is because you don’t come to Claxton Bay.” The comment evoked laughter in the courtroom as Magistrate Forde-John retorted, “Guns can be found everywhere. Seriously, I suppose it is the reason why we are where we are today. This is a lawless country.” Magistrate Forde-John then went on to tell the accused Jeffrey and his attorney that had it not been for the keen sense of observation of police officers involved in the exercise, there could have been other crimes.

The magistrate said that owing to the fact that Jeffrey had no previous conviction and he had pleaded guilty, she would not impose a custodial sentence. She fined him $6,000 and ordered that $2,000 be paid forthwith.