Gun and ammunition importation charges dismissed against 44-year-old

Emil Bernard Williams is a free man after charges against him relating to the importation of guns and ammunition were dismissed.

A nine-member jury on Tuesday found the 44-year-old, of Elizabeth Park, Christ Church not guilty on all seven counts.

Williams, who was represented by attorneys-at-law Andrew Pilgrim Q.C. and Martie Garnes, had been charged with importing a 7.62 Russian calibre semi-automatic pistol; a .38 special calibre revolver; a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol; a .40 Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol and 103 rounds of ammunition on April 17, 2012.

He was also accused of conspiring with other persons to import the firearms and ammunition.

In an unsworn statement earlier this week Williams declared that he was “Never a gun-toting man” nor was he affiliated to any “bad boys”.

“In terms of the guns I never even touched a firearm in my life, that’s the honest truth. I have never in my life touched a firearm. I have seen it around me and what not . . . but I have no need for a firearm, not even a legal firearm much less an illegal one.

“The amount of firearms and ammunition in the case, what I doing with that? What could I be doing with it? A man like me . . . I am not a gang member . . . what would I be doing with these guns? What would I be doing with a hundred and something rounds of ammunition? I ain’t no trouble tree . . . ,” he told the No. 3 Supreme Court presided over by Justice Carlisle Greaves.

After deliberating for about two hours on Tuesday, following Justice Greaves’ summation of the case, the jurors returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all seven counts of the original 12-count indictment.

Williams’ case was prosecuted by Crown Counsel Romario Straker.