Man tossed firearm during police stop, fined

A Christ Church man who threw a loaded gun from a vehicle during a police stop two years ago has been ordered to pay a total of $32 000 in fines.

Now, Philip Harris, of Bartletts Tenantry, Sargeants Village, Christ Church, has to pay $32 000 in fines after pleading guilty to having an unlicensed 9mm Ruger-calibre pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition without a valid permit on January 12, 2023.

Reminding people that there was no right to bear arms in Barbados, Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell said: “The indiscriminate possession and use of firearms is wreaking havoc on our society so much so that it, amongst other illegal activity, is being seen as a public health issue and crisis. 

“This behaviour of illegally acquiring firearms for whatever reason must be stamped out.”  

She gave an 11-year starting point for the firearm offence, highlighting that it was of a dangerous calibre, was loaded and ready for use, was in a public place and that his attempt to get rid of the firearm put others at risk of injury due to an accidental misfire. The recovery of the gun was the lone mitigating feature.

The first-time offender was credited with a one-third discount for his guilty plea, and 1 070 days were deducted for time spent on remand. He was left with a custodial sentence of 2 093 days for the firearm and 877 days for the ammunition.

Justice Smith-Bovell stressed: “The fact that Parliament passed new legislation to increase the prison sentence for firearm possession, which can be accompanied by a fine of up to $100 000, shows the State’s abhorrence of people illegally gaining possession of illegal firearms. There is a clear intention on the part of the State to stamp out this practice by creating sentences to deter people.” 

Noting that a fine would serve justice in the matter, the judge ordered him to pay $25 000 for the gun, $10 000 of which was due immediately. She also ordered that he pay $7 500 for the ammunition, $4 000 forthwith. Both fines are to be settled by October 30.

Failure to pay the firearm fine will result in Harris serving five years and 268 days behind bars, while he will face two years and 147 days if the ammunition fine is not paid.

“If the fines are not paid on both, the terms will run concurrently,” the judge said.

State Counsel Maya Kellman prosecuted the case, while defence attorney Safiya Moore represented Harris.

Police received information and headed to Collymore Rock, St Michael, where they saw a vehicle at the corner of Villa Road and pulled it over, the court heard. One of the officers, upon approaching the vehicle, saw Harris, who was sitting in the rear-left seat, open the door, throw out a pink cloth, and then close the door. 

Another officer shouted: “Gun”. The cloth was found containing the firearm and a magazine with ammunition. When asked about it, the now-convicted man said: “I find dat.”. Later, during the police interview, he said it was found the day before in Brittons Hill.