Gun costs man $20 000

Romario Rohan Cozier will have the next nine months to pay $20 000 for having an illegal gun.

Justice Christopher Birch imposed the fine on the 21-year-old convicted gunman as he complained that people like him were shattering the peace of urban and rural districts across the island.

“We have arrived at a point in our history where the sound of firearms resound in urban and rural districts…. I do not know how we arrived here but we are here because of actions of people like you,” the High Court judge told Cozier who has been on remand at Dodds for 16 months and would have to spend more time behind bars if he does not pay up within the stipulated time.

The sentence was imposed on the Waterhall Land, Eagle Hall, St Michael resident on Friday following a guilty plea for possession of a .32 Magnum revolver. If Cozier fails to pay the amount, he will spend two years in prison – the remainder of a starting six-year sentence.

As he had in other gun matters that came before him, Justice Birch expressed grave concern about the prevalence of illegal firearms on the nation’s streets.

He said he could not understand why some people were so fascinated with items that were designed for the purpose of killing, injuring, disfiguring or maiming.

“It is not like a knife that can peel  fruits, cut up vegetables; it is not a hammer, it is not a collins. A firearm has one purpose which is why we restrict the ownership and use of firearms in this country by law.

“We have arrived at a point where people walk around and take weapons as fashion accessories. People going to parties, not with significant others but showing off firearms as though the firearm is a date. It has reached a stage where there has been a phrase that has been coined to describe it – ammo-sexuality, where people fetishize the carrying and the showing of firearms, like mine is bigger than yours; a fashion accessory in a manner that we use to have jewellery,” the judge lamented.

Crown Counsel Joyann Catwell told Justice Birch that the weapon for which Cozier was charged was discovered on March 3, 2020 when police executed a search warrant at the young man’s residence.

While lawmen were in the living room area, Cozier ran through a back door. Police chased him and saw him toss a black-handled weapon over a galvanize paling. Cozier was caught and the weapon was recovered.

According to Catwell, the gun belonged to a licensed firearm holder who reported it stolen back in 2015.

“You should count yourself exceedingly lucky that when this firearm was found in your possession you were not charged with its theft from a licensed holder,” Justice Birch told Cozier. “But it is not for the court to speculate how you came to have the firearm that did not belong to you.”

Both the prosecutor and Cozier’s attorney, Latisha Springer, submitted that a $20 000 fine was a fitting punishment for the crime.

Springer further argued that a custodial sentence was not merited at this time and urged the court to allow the first-time father to go home to meet his child.

Although imposing the fine, Justice Birch told Cozier: “If you had known that you wanted to see your child, you would prioritize their welfare higher, rather than having an illegal firearm in your possession. The only reason you did not get to hold your child or see your child, is you. I hope you accept that the responsibility is yours.”