Legal Experts Recommend Fine, Not Jail Time, for Woman Guilty of Illegal Firearm Possession

Attorneys from both the prosecution and defence agree that a woman who confessed to having an illegal firearm and ammunition should be fined and not jailed for the offence.

First-time offender Raquel Thompson, 36, of Harmony Circle, the Belle, St Michael had previously pleaded guilty in Supreme Court No. 5 to possession of a .38 Smith and Wesson special calibre revolver without a valid licence, and eight rounds of ammunition without a permit on July 23, 2021.

Making sentencing submissions before Madam Justice Pamela Beckles on Wednesday, Principal State Counsel Olivia Davis outlined the aggravating factors of the offence, including the prevalence of guns in society, and weighed that against Thompson’s early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, cooperation with the police and favourable pre-sentence report.

Saying that a fine would serve justice in this case, the prosecutor submitted that Thompson pay a $15 000 fine for the firearm and $8 000 for the ammunition.

In the case of a custodial sentence, Davis gave a starting point of eight years with discounts given for the early guilty plea and the nine days spent on remand.

Agreeing with the prosecution, the convicted woman’s attorney Senior Counsel Michael Lashley asked for a non-custodial sentence, submitting that his client pay $15 000 for the firearm and $5 000 for the ammunition.

Justice Beckles scheduled sentencing for April 4.