Five men were remanded and a warrant was issued for another to be locked up on arrest after a jury convicted them of several gun-related offences related to a shootout with police five years ago.
After two-and-a-half days of summation by Justice Carlisle Greaves, the nine-member jury took less than three hours to reach unanimous guilty verdicts on the ten-count indictment in which Adigun Rabbi Hinds, of 5A Maddison Terrace, Deacons; Malik Derick Fenty, of 2nd Avenue Redman Road, Deacons; Richad Barry Boyce, of 2nd Avenue Kellman Land, Black Rock; Richard Shamario Worrell, of Derriston Road, Grazettes; Ranako Kadeaine Brathwaite, of Fairfield Cross Road; and Rashad Justin Bowen, of Gilkes Land, Fairfield, Black Rock faced joint and individual charges.
Hinds, Fenty, Boyce, Worrell and Bowen were found guilty of recklessly discharging a firearm along Kew Road, Bank Hall, St Michael, a public place, which placed Acting Assistant Superintendent of Police Dale Crichlow, and officers Jamal Williams, Ryan Eversley and Markinson Chandler in danger of death or serious bodily harm.
The five were also convicted of using a firearm while committing the offence of endangering life.
All six were convicted of having four firearms in their possession, namely two 9 mm semi-automatic pistols and two .40 mm semi-automatic pistols, without a valid licence to do so, as well as 44 rounds of ammunition without the necessary permit.
Brathwaite, meanwhile, was found guilty of recklessly discharging a firearm along Kew Road, Bank Hall, St Michael, a public place, which placed officers Kevin Boyce and Jason Allman in danger of death or serious bodily harm, and using a firearm while committing the offence of endangering life.
Following the verdicts, Senior State Counsel Neville Watson who was the prosecutor in the case asked that the convicted men be remanded to Dodds pending sentence.
Justice Greaves ordered that Worrell, Hinds, Fenty, Boyce and Bowen be remanded, and he issued a warrant of arrest for Brathwaite who has missed several court dates.
The judge, who presides over the No. 3 Supreme Court, said Brathwaite “is to be remanded in custody if and when apprehended pending sentence”.
Pre-sentencing reports have been ordered for all six convicts, which should be submitted to the court by September 15.
Justice Greaves explained that while he understood that Brathwaite had been absent, it was his view that probation officers could still interview his family and any other pertinent persons recommended by his attorney Simon Clarke.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, it was also disclosed by Detective Constable Damian Beckles that only three of the six men were previously known to the court. He said Hinds had three previous convictions for theft and robbery; Worrell had five convictions, among them possession of ammunition and cannabis; and Bowen has a conviction for cannabis possession.
Martie Garnes, who, in association with Latisha Springer represented Fenty, signalled that he intended to challenge the case at the Court of Appeal.
Worrell was represented by attorney-at-law Michael Lashley KC; Hinds had Angella Mitchell-Gittens and Kristen Vanderpool as his attorneys; Boyce’s lawyer is Kyle Walkes; and Bowen had Justin Leacock as his defence counsel.
The men will reappear before the court on September 29 for sentencing. ]]>
