Court Convictions
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~ BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federation’s Magistrate’s Courts seemed quite busy on Tuesday and saw the handing down of almost $11 000 in fines and the sentencing to prison of persons convicted of charges brought against them.
Bernel Viera of Half Way Tree made an appearance at the District “B” Magistrate’s Court on charges of “possession of a firearm”, “possession of ammunition”, “possession of cannabis” and “possession of cannabis with intent to supply”.
The said charges were preferred against him as a result of an incident that occurred less than two months prior.
“On Thursday 27th February at 9:00 a.m. while on routine patrol, police saw 24-year-old Bernel Viera close to the River Side area in Old Road Village. He attempted to run when approached by the officers but was stopped and searched. The searched revealed a .380 pistol and a magazine with 4 rounds of ammunition in his pant waist. A quantity of marijuana was also found in his possession. As a result of the find, Bernel was arrested and charged,” police inform.
Viera was convicted on all charges: on the first was sentenced to serve six years in prison; on the second, he was sentenced to serve six years in prison; on the third he was sentenced to serve six months; and on the last he was sentenced to five years imprisonment. The sentences are to run concurrently.
At the District “C” Magistrate’s Court, James Hamm of Bath Village appeared to answer to the two counts of “larceny” which were brought against him. He was convicted on both counts and sentenced to serve three years imprisonment each. Sentences are to run concurrently.
The charges were brought against him following a report “which led to investigations in January 2008, police on Nevis carried out investigations after receiving a report of theft and found one DJ Mixer, the property of Wayne Tyson and one Stereo CD/Cassette Recorder the property of Verlin David in the possession of James.”
For the September 17, 2007 offence of “driving without due care and attention”, Raul Hope of Morning Star, Nevis was convicted and fined $2 500 that he has to pay within the next three months. If, for whatever reason, he fails to abide by the court’s stipulations he would be forced to be a guest at Her Majesty’s Prison for a three-month period. Additionally, he was disqualified from “holding or obtaining” a driver’s license for a three-month period.
Green Tree Housing Project residents Marsha Boyles and Doreen Liburd, who appeared before the District “B” Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on one count each of “battery”, were both convicted and fined $350 to be paid within two months or custodial sentence would be passed.
St. Pauls Villager, Cleon Francis was ordered to pay a total of $3 750, having been convicted of “wounding”. Of that sum, $750 is to be paid to the “aggrieved party”. All monies must be paid within three months or a three-month custodial sentence would be imposed by the court.
In addition to having his driver’s license suspended for one year, Calvin Harris of St. Pauls was ordered to pay $2 500 within four months for the offences of “driving without due care and attention” and “driving under the influence of liquor”.
For trespassing and stealing 33 coconuts, Trevor Francis of St. Pauls, who was charged with two counts of trespassing and two counts of praedial larceny was convicted and, “ordered to pay $500 in one month or serve one month in prison for the two counts of trespassing and was ordered to pay $124 in one month on each count of praedial larceny, or serve one month in prison,” a police press release informs.
The offences were committed on November 16, 2007 when “police responded to a report at Rawlins Plantation and met Trevor with 33 coconuts all stolen from Rawlins Plantation.”
