Officer testifies in illegal firearm trial

Cross-examination of the lead investigator continued in the trial of Miguel Leslie Alpha Bobb-Blackman, who denies unlawfully possessing a Ruger .45-calibre pistol and ammunition.

Bobb-Blackman, 24, of Spruce Street, The City, pleaded not guilty to having the firearm without a valid licence and four rounds of ammunition without a valid permit on June 12, 2025.

Under cross-examination by defence attorney Shadia Simpson, who is representing the accused man, PC Antonio France told the nine-member jury that there was nothing else in the bag where the firearm was found.

The defence attorney asked: “So there was nothing linking Miguel Bobb-Blackman in the bag? No identification card, no cell phone belonging to him, nothing?” 

“No ma’am, but I saw him with the bag,” the officer replied.

The constable said he had instructed the forensic scenes of crime officer to dust the firearm for fingerprints. He said he had not highlighted this direction in his statement.

“Did you ask her to swab the firearm for DNA or the bag?” Simpson asked.

“No ma’am,” he replied, later adding: “The lab was not in working order.”

He stated that the only two people who saw the accused with the bag were himself and PC Kevin Jordan.

Acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod and State Counsel Tameisha Sobers are prosecuting. Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell presides.

(JB)