Gun charge dropped against Kittitian charged in Cop killing

By L.K. Hewlett
Editor- SKNVibes.com

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. – DISTRICT Court judge Curtis Gomez on Friday dismissed one of the charges against Kittitian born 25-year-old Jermaine Paris who is currently awaiting trial in the slaying of Police Officer Ariel Frett.

Paris was released on bail in November 2007 after he had been arrested and charged in the Feb. 8, 2007 shooting that took place near to the Hospital Ground home where Paris and his co-defendant brother Basheem Ford resided.

On March 1st, 2008, Paris was arrested and slapped with federal gun possession charges when police searched him after a night-club fight and a Taurus .45-caliber handgun fell out of his pants.

Public defense attorney Jesse Gessin gave a convincing argument that the officers did not have reasonable suspicion to stop and search Paris and at a suppression hearing Wednesday, federal prosecutors conceded that the search was illegal and filed the dismissal motion two days later.    ~~Adz:Right~~

Paris still faces aiding and abetting first-degree murder, second-degree murder and weapons charges relating to the killing of the 52-year-old veteran police officer.