BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TWO men were last week jailed for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition while another was charged with possession of one round of ammunition.
Jahno Francis of Pitcairn Street, Newtown appeared last Tuesday (Nov. 24) before Chief Magistrate Josephine Mallalieu-Webbe to answer to charges of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.
According to the facts of the case stated by Corporal Carl Greaux of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Sheldon ‘Sword’ Cannonier of Neverson Street East, Newtown had reported to the Basseterre Police Station that at about 9:30 a.m. on August 27, 2009, while he and his four-year-old son were walking along Manchester Avenue in Newtown, a masked man fired shots at them but neither of them was injured.
The court was also told that members of the CID and the Anti-Gang Unit responded and conducted a search in the area where the shots were fired and found one Automatic Assault Rifle and 29 matching rounds of ammunition.
Three men, including Francis, were taken into custody, and based on investigations he was charged with possession of the firearm and ammunition.
He was sentenced to six years on each count but they will run concurrently.
Tejay Isaac of Conaree also appeared before Chief Magistrate Mallalieu-Webbe on the same day as Francis.
According to Corporal Greaux, the court was told that on Sunday, November 22, 2009, members of the CID and the Anti-Gang Unit launched an operation in Newtown, which resulted in Isaac being taken into custody at the Basseterre Police Station.
While at the station, a thorough search of his person was carried out and one 9mm Pistol and 16 rounds of matching ammunition were found in his possession. He was sentenced to three years on each count, which will also run concurrently.
Meanwhile, in continuation of an operation launched early in the last quarter of this year, members of the Anti-Gang Unit were on patrol in the McKnight area yesterday (Nov. 29) and found Kenya Francis of Upper Shaw Avenue with one live 12 Gauge Shotgun round of ammunition.
He was charged with possession of ammunition and is expected to appear before the court shortly.
These recent finds have taken to 32, the amount of illegal firearms removed from the streets of St. Kitts and Nevis for 2009.
