Convicted gunman Osbourne Delano Mings will find out his fate next Friday when he returns to the High Court for sentencing.
In the meantime, Justice Christopher Birch has ordered that the Rock Hall, St Thomas man remain on remand at Dodds Prison.
The 29-year-old appeared before Supreme Court No. 5a today where he pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and one round of ammunition.
Police were carrying out surveillance in the Dome Mall car park area at Warrens, St Michel on October 21, 2020 when they observed a vehicle, which was the subject of an investigation, parked with two occupants inside. A female walked to the vehicle from a fast food restaurant and Mings, who was the driver, left.
Senior State Counsel Oliver Thomas, who read the facts, said Mings appeared to be fidgeting when he saw the police.
The vehicle was stopped, police approached and Mings was detained while the female passengers were asked to disembark. One of them had a fast food box and indicated that it was heavier than when she had first purchased it. On looking inside, lawmen found the firearm.
“What he trying to do to me? The woman queried when asked to account for the weapon. “Osbourne pelt the box on my lap. What he trying to do to me?” she repeated, before Mings told the police, “The gun is mine”.
An investigation started and Mings agreed to give police a written statement which he dictated. In it he said he was transporting his girlfriend and mother to Station Hill and stopped in Warrens to get something to eat.
“When we were leaving we were stopped by the police jeep and searched but they didn’t find anything because I had hidden it inside the food, which is the . . . box my girlfriend had for me and threw it in her lap. She didn’t know nothing. She didn’t know nothing, she didn’t know what was inside of it. Everything is mine, they belong to me,” the prosecutor read from the statement.
During further investigations Mings told police he had found a bag and when he opened it realized there was a gun inside.
“I just decided to keep it to protect myself . . . I am sorry, I know it was wrong, I just sorry.”
According to the keeper of records, Mings, alias “Redman Mings”, who is an auto valet has 13 previous convictions among them burglary, theft, possession of cannabis; causing bodily harm by furious driving and for possession of a firearm. The latter charge he was convicted for before the Supreme Court in 2015.
After waiving his rights to a pre-sentencing report Mings addresses Justice Birch saying, “Sir I know it’s wrong and I am very sorry . . . If possible . . . you can be a little lenient on me sir. Please sir.”
