Sentencing in gun case next month

Attorneys will offer sentencing submissions on April 29 in a drugs and firearms case before Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell in the No. 4 Supreme Court.

Crown Counsel Rudolph Burnett is prosecuting the matter against Akeil Rishado Cumberbatch, of Prior Park Gardens, St James who had previously pleaded guilty to several criminal offences committed on November 7, 2015 – namely having a firearm and ammunition without valid licences as well as possession and trafficking of cannabis.

Attorneys Arthur Holder, Rhea Layne and Ensley Grainger are representing Cumberbatch. A pre-sentencing report has been ordered on the first-time offender in preparation for sentencing.

Outlining the details of the crime, Burnett revealed that as a result of information received police obtained and executed a search around 4 p.m. at Cumberbatch’s residence.

On arrival there they met a man in the garage who directed them to the interior of the house. He went to a bedroom door, knocked and Cumberbatch answered. He was given the search warrant and told the reason for the police’s presence. He granted them permission to conduct the search.

Before the search started, he was asked whether he owned everything in the said bedroom and he said yes.

During the search, a plastic container with three drawers was found in a wooden draw containing four transparent Ziploc bags each with vegetable matter.

Asked to account for the find, Cumberbatch told lawmen, “That is marijuana I does sell.”

A silver case on top of a wardrobe was also found to contain vegetable matter. About that Cumberbatch said, “That is my marijuana I had to sell.”

In a drawstring bag at the bottom of the wardrobe was more of the substance. “I got that marijuana to sell too,” he disclosed.

When lawmen came across a blue tin, Cumberbatch again told them, “I tired telling you that is marijuana.” When another bag containing a black and silver firearm was discovered, the man said “I find that out Hall’s Village in 2013.”

Asked if he could show lawmen where the gun was found he replied “I can’t remember where.”

Three rounds of shotgun ammunition were also discovered. There was also one round in the weapon.

“I buy that ammunition from a man that died in February to test the shotgun”.

Asked for the man’s name, Cumberbatch said “I can’t do that.”