St. Michael Man to Present Defence in Illegal Ammunition Possession Trial

A St Michael man on trial for illegal possession of ammunition will put his case to the jury on Friday when he is expected to call several witnesses to give evidence.

Stephon Freeman of Greenfield has pleaded not guilty to having 14 rounds of ammunition without a valid permit on May 7, 2021. A nine-member jury is hearing his case before Justice Pamela Beckles in the No. 5 Supreme Court.

Police Constable Melissa Thomas gave her evidence earlier in the proceedings. She said she and other officers went to a residence at Gills Road, The City, around 5 a.m. Upon entering, she saw the accused and other persons in the living room and was instructed to stay with the female resident while the other officers searched. Sometime later, another police constable showed her a magazine containing the bullets.

Under cross-examination by Freeman, who is self-represented, the police officer stated she was present when the bedroom was searched as she accompanied the female resident. Thomas said she was not able to say what type of ammunition was found as she was not a firearms examiner. When asked if the ammunition was found on him, the police constable stated that the magazine and rounds of ammunition were found in the chest of drawers in the bedroom of one of the other occupants.

State Counsel Kevin Forde is prosecuting the case.

Alleged teen fraudster to reappear in court next year

An 18-year-old sales executive returns to court next May on three fraud charges.

Dre Natari Smith of Craigg Road, St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, appeared before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court accused of forging a certain bill of exchange purporting to be a Republic Bank of Barbados Limited cheque payable to himself for $5 000 and drawn on the account of John Huggins, with intent to defraud.

He is also charged with uttering a certain forged bill of exchange purporting to be a Republic Bank of Barbados Limited cheque payable to himself for $5 000 drawn on the account of John Huggins knowing the same to be forged and; that with intent to defraud, he endeavoured to obtain $5 000 by virtue of the same forged cheque on October 24.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charges. Magistrate Manila Renee granted him $5 000 bail and adjourned the case until May 14.

Nail tech bailed on theft charges

A 32-year-old nail technician appeared before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on two theft charges on Wednesday.

Rhea Olivia Ifill pleaded not guilty to stealing $1 000 from Ivan Whitfield-Hunte on May 30 and another $800 from him on the same day.