First-time offender to be sentenced in July

A St Michael man who had eight rounds of ammunition while at a fete in St George is expected to find out his fate when he reappears before the High Court in July.

Daniel Akeem Hurley of 2nd Avenue, Peterkin Land, Bank Hall had previously admitted to having the rounds of .32 ammunition in his pocket on October 6, 2018. He had no permit to carry the ammunition.

Today, Crown Counsel Kevin Forde told the No. 4 Supreme Court that lawmen went on duty at Roach Village, St George where several people were gathered including Hurley.

On seeing police however he took off running to the back of the establishment causing officers to pursue him. He was apprehended and after agreeing to a search the bullets, which were in a magazine, were found in his pocket.

After being advised of his rights to an attorney, Hurley told police, “I don’t want no lawyer, you done find the shots on me.”

He further told police he had the illegal items because “people” wanted to do him something and so he got them.

Appearing before Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith Bovell this morning the 25-year-old, who is currently on bail after spending 78 days on remand at Dodds, apologized for committing the offence.

His attorney-at-law Desmond Sands mitigated on his behalf and submitted to the court that a non-custodial sentence was justified in Hurley’s case. Sands suggested that the court consider a suspended sentence or impose a fine in the region of $5 000 to $7 500.

The lawyer told the judge that his client, a first time offender, had not wasted the court’s time by pleading guilty at the first opportunity and had no prior convictions or committed any crime since then.

“He regrets his actions, accepts responsibility . . . and the offence was out of character,” Sands said, adding that Hurley was assessed as being at a low risk of reoffending.

The prosecutor agreed that a custodial sentence was not justified in this case but submitted that a $12 000 fine be imposed on the convicted man to be paid in six months or an alternative of seven years in prison.

Forde based his submission on the fact that the bullets were found in Hurley’s possession in a public place.

The Crown Counsel also told Justice Smith-Bovell that Hurley had admitted to police that he had also purchased a weapon which was not recovered. He added: “It is still on the streets and can be used.”

The sentencing phase of Hurley’s case will continue on July 9.