Arthur sick, appeals to the court

Richard Delisle Arthur was back in the Supreme Court today just a little over 48 hours after being convicted and remanded to HMP Dodds on ammunition charges.

This afternoon his attorney Andrew Pilgrim, QC, made a fresh application for the 57-year-old Maynards, St Peter resident to be released on bail pending sentencing on the basis of ill health, some of which he has been suffering with since 2003.

Following submissions from Pilgrim who described Arthur’s conviction as “an academic offence”, the Crown’s prosecutor, Principal Crown Counsel Alliston Seale said the medical certificate presented to the court was not enough. He argued that there was a need for the No. 2 Supreme Court to hear from Arthur’s doctor.

Justice Randall Worrell then ordered that Arthur remain on remand at the St Philip institution until Tuesday May 28 when the doctor is expected to address the court.

It was only on Wednesday that Arthur, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, was found guilty by a nine-member jury of having 102 rounds in his possession on January 31, 2012 without a valid licence.

The assorted ammunition was found when police executed a search warrant at his residence. The ammunition was discovered in his bedroom, in a closet, in a bag and under a flight of stairs.

His bail was revoked on conviction and he was remanded to prison until July 19 pending a pre-sentencing report. The development sent the Caribbean-ranked marksman into an immediate emotional tailspin as he sobbed in disbelief after the nine-member jury returned a guilty verdict.

Today, Arthur still appeared extremely nervous and distraught during the proceedings.

fernellawedderburn@barbarbadostoday.bb