Father fined for dead son’s gun

The accused man of Enterprise Street in Chaguanas said that the firearm and ammunition were hidden in the family home by his son. The accused was taken before Magistrate Sharon Gibson to answer to the charges of possession of a black Glock 21 firearm and a magazine containing eight live rounds of .45mm ammunition.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in the Chaguanas First Magistrate’s Court. Police prosecutor Sgt Ken Ali told the court that about 5.45pm on Sunday, police constables Sammy, Roberts and Meighoo responded to a report that a man was armed with a firearm at Joseph Street, Enterprise.

The officers went to the location where they searched the suspect.

Gibson heard that the firearm and ammunition were found inside the man’s front right pocket. He was arrested and later charged. Attorney Shiva Boodoo, who represented the man, said that his client was remorseful but had also become depressed since the death of his son in September 2015. The man’s son was shot to death in the central area.

“The accused told police officers that just before his son died, he was told by his son that a gun was hidden in the home, but he didn’t take it seriously,” Boodoo said. The attorney further explained that it was only while cleaning the family house, the father found the firearm and ammunition.

“He is sorry for making such a grave mistake,” Boodoo said. The accused was fined $8,000 or in default of payment serve four years in prison on the charge of possession of a firearm and $4,000 for possession of the ammunition. In default of paying that fine, he will serve three years in prison. He was given 50 days to pay the money.