Teenagers convicted of gun-related offence…
Sentencing scheduled for next week
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Evron Williams
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - TWO Sandy Point teenagers face the possibility of being sentenced to prison for the next couple of years following their conviction for a gun-related offence.
Evron Williams, 19, and Joseph Charles, 18, were charged with the commission of a Sunday, September 2, 2007 offence of “assault with intent to rob” and were tried at the Basseterre High Court.
Over the two-day trial, the 12-member jury heard from the three prosecution witnesses that were called to give evidence, first of which was the virtual complainant (VC) in the case, Vincent Freeman of Sandy Point.
Freeman, who is a construction worker and businessman, told the court that at about 9:45 that evening, he was sitting on a bench at Mount Idle, Sandy Point awaiting the arrival of one of his passenger busses from which to take some items.
The VC explained that while there, he noticed Williams and Charles in the old burnt down Post Office located on the mountain side of the road. He explained that he was able to identify the two accused as they were clearly visible through the window and doorway openings of the building.
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Joseph Charles
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“Williams had on all black. Nothing was on his head at the time. Charles had on a jean pant with nothing on his head. I looked at them for nearly an hour. I was about 30 feet from them. Nothing was obstructing my view from seeing them.”
Freeman told the court that his bus arrived and after he’d collected six bottles of orange juice he remained seated on the bench for another few minutes before heading home to his residence at The Alley, Sandy Point.
“As soon as I was going up I heard, ‘Man don’t move. Just pass the money’. Williams came in front of me and said that. I saw Charles as well….Williams had a hood over his head while Charles had a white cloth tied over his head… He (Williams) was pointing a gun in front of me and telling me to pass the money…”
The VC explained that during the onslaught, Williams kept brandishing the gun in his direction while Charles attempted to remove the bag of drinks from his hand which caused the bag to burst. Freeman said he then made an attempt to run back the way he’d come but fell in the process.
~~Adz:Left~~He indicated that he managed to regain his footing and then grabbed a hold of the white cloth covering Charles’ face and removed it. Shortly thereafter, he began shouting for help and persons nearby started gathering where he was. According to Freeman, the would-be robbers then fled the scene via the “high school road”.
The police was then called and investigations began.
The other two witnesses called by the prosecution were Woman Police Constable (WPC) Shameika Williams and arresting officer Orlando Hughes.
After more than two and a half hours of deliberations, the jury informed that they found that the men were guilty of the offence and they were divided 10-2.
Justice Francis Belle told the men that they would be sentenced next Thursday and informed that they would be given an opportunity to submit mitigating pleas.
They were remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison until such time.
The May 2008 Criminal Assizes has been adjourned until next Thursday.
