Belair man’s prison time to end with fines sentence for firearms possession

Jabari Hashim Brathwaite’s stay at HMP Dodds should soon be at an end after Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell on Friday imposed a non-custodial sentence on him.

Brathwaite, of Belair, St Philip, has been on remand for 706 days. He will now have to pay $20,000 in fines after previously pleading guilty to having a .38 revolver and five rounds of ammunition on June 3, 2019.

At his sentencing, Brathwaite’s mother indicated she had $5,000 and following an enquiry from his attorney, Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley, as to when he would be leaving prison, Justice Smith-Bovell said he would be released once the necessary paperwork was completed and sent to the prison.

Sade Harris, Seantell Parris and Simon Clarke appeared in association with Lashley.

Justice Smith-Bovell fined the convicted man $15,000 in nine months with an alternative of two years, 24 days in prison for possession of the firearm and $5,000 in four months or two years, 24 days in prison.

The court heard that police were on duty in Four Roads, St John, conducting a stop and search operation. Brathwaite, who was 20 years old at the time, was seen by police officers acting in a suspicious manner and was pursued after he got into a car.

After pulling over, Brathwaite exited the vehicle with a haversack on his back and ran away but was eventually apprehended.

He consented to a search and the firearm was found in his waist.

When asked to account for the weapon, Brathwaite told police “some men kill my cousin and they want to kill me too so I got that for my protection”.

Before being sentenced, the convicted man begged the court for leniency.

“All I have to say ma’am is that I ask for a little leniency on any sentence you choose to pass on to me,” he said. “I’m sorry for offending the court. I am sorry and I ask for your forgiveness and your mercy.”

Brathwaite had no previous convictions, the court heard.

for not wasting the court’s time in that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had shown remorse for his actions.

She also noted that character witnesses spoke highly of Brathwaite with his former employer vowing to rehire him whenever he was released from prison.

Senior Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas appeared on behalf of the Crown in the case.