Thomas St. man guilty of illegal gun, ammo possession

Aug 27, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Darryl John, of Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg, has been found guilty of having a .38 revolver in his possession, without a licence, and with illegally having six .38 ammunition, four 9mm ammunition and two .32 ammunition in his

CHARGED: Darryl John

possession on September 27, 2015.
John learnt of his fate when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
It was reported that on the day in question, John whipped out a firearm and threatened to kill several police ranks, who were on patrol, when they requested to conduct a search on motorcar PRR 7001, he was driving.
In summarising the case, Magistrate Latchman recounted the facts presented by Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick. According to which, on the day in question, John was stopped by a group of police officers who attempted to conduct a breathalyzer test on him; he retaliated and started to behave in a disorderly manner. He pulled the firearm from the car and threatened the ranks with it before speeding away. John was later arrested by police, who found that the gun was unlicenced.
Following yesterday’s summing up and ruling of the Magistrate, John’s lawyer, Charles Ramson Jr. requested a probation report be presented on behalf of his client before sentencing. As such, the Magistrate ordered that John, who was out on bail, remain in State custody, until the probation report is presented in one week’s time.
On Thursday, Ramson Jr. had made a no case submission to the court on behalf of his client. Ramson told the court that there is no case for his client to answer to, based on the evidence led by Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick. He argued that the case of the prosecution is “weak” since it cannot secure the conviction of his client. He said that the prosecution has failed to prove the key elements of the offence – whether his client had physical control, knowledge and custody of the arms and ammunition.
In response Prosecutor Bostwick told the court that a Prima Facie case was made out against John for the offences charged.
He recounted that seven witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution and urged the court to believe the evidence given by Constable Cummings, who searched the car in the presence of the defendant and other ranks. The prosecutor noted that after the alleged firearm and ammunition were found in the vehicle, they were shown to John, and he remained silent.
It was at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Brickdam Police Station, Bostwick said, that John uttered to Constable Cummings, “Sir, about 15 days ago I find the firearm with the rounds in Albouystown and was planning to hand it over to the police,” after the allegations of possession of illegal firearm and ammunition were put to him. The matter was adjourned until September 2, when the sentence is expected to be handed down.