CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – FORMER policeman Jermaine Gaskin and Anthony Francis yesterday (Apr. 8) appeared before Justice Ianthea Leigertwood Octave at the Nevis High Court and were found guilty of robbery.
The guilty verdict was returned on Gaskin and Francis by the 12-member jury, which deliberated for less than 30 minutes. The duo will have to return to court on April 27 for their sentencing hearing.
During the trial, which began on Tuesday, April 7, the jury heard how Gaskin and Francis on May 29 last year robbed Ernest Dover of two cellular phones, a wrist watch, a pair of sunglasses, two Ipods, a back-pack and $120 while he was in the vicinity of the Bath cemetery.
Dover, who was the prosecution’s first witness, said the masked men had demanded he give them everything he had. He said one of them was brandishing a gun and, since he was scared, he willingly gave up everything.
Other witnesses called by the Prosecutor, Raynold Benjamin, were Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Liburd, Sergeant Orlando Carty and Constables Valentine Hodge, Denise Henry and Damon DaSent.
Carty testified that he was instructed by Assistant Commissioner Liburd to meet Gaskin at a chinese restaurant where the accused gave him a firearm and ammunition; a timberland bag; a small Ipod and a pair of sunglasses. Gaskin was arrested and later gave a statement during which he confessed to the crime.
Francis also confessed to the crime in his statement and led the police to a spot behind the Crown Bakery in Stoney Grove where they recovered the two phones taken from Dover; the large Ipod and the watch.
Francis was arrested shortly after the incident in the vicinity of the Crown Bakery, while Gaskin was taken into custody on May 30.
