Five St Michael men have been jailed for 20 years, less the time they have spent on remand, for endangering the lives of several police officers in a shootout five years ago.
A sixth man was sentenced in absentia, as he has been missing since May 2023.
Justice Carlisle Greaves on Friday imposed the sentences on 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; and Rashad Justin Bowen, of Gilkes Land, Fairfield, Black Rock.
Ranako Kadeaine Brathwaite, of Fairfield Cross Road, has been the subject of a police missing person bulletin for more than five months. He went missing after giving his defence as the trial came to a close in the High Court.
While he was noticeably absent, his accomplices sat quietly in the dock as Justice Greaves delivered his ruling on the 10-count indictment. Several of the officers involved in the matter were also present in the No. 3 Supreme Court.
All six were sentenced to 15 years on each of the counts 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, and possession of 44 rounds of ammunition without the necessary permit. These sentences will run concurrently.
Hinds, Fenty, Boyce, Worrell and Bowen were sentenced to five years for recklessly discharging a firearm along Kew Road, Bank Hall, St Michael, a public place. They will also serve five years for each of the four counts of endangering the lives of Acting Assistant Superintendent of Police Dale Crichlow, and officers Jamal Williams, Ryan Eversley and Markinson Chandler. These will all run concurrently with a five-year sentence for their use of a firearm but consecutive to the 15-year sentence for possession.
Meanwhile, Brathwaite, who 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 was sentenced to five years on each count, also to run concurrently.
Justice Greaves informed the men that the time they had spent on remand would be deducted from their sentence. For Hinds, that will be 915 days; Bowen, 491 days; Fenty, 559 days; Boyce, 1012 days; Worrell, 1597 days; and Brathwaite, 499 days.
Before the convicted men were led away in handcuffs by prison personnel, Justice Greaves granted them a few minutes to say their goodbyes to and hug family members and friends who had gathered on the balcony of the court to watch the proceedings.
Principal State Counsel Neville Watson prosecuted the case.
Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens and attorney Kristen Vanderpool represented Hinds, Martie Garnes and Latisha Springer were the lawyers for Fenty, Worrell was represented by Michael Lashley SC, Brathwaite’s attorney was Simon Clarke, Boyce’s lawyer was Kyle Walkes, and Bowen had Justin Leacock as his defence counsel.
