Adrian Fitzgerald Bradshaw, also known as Peter Bradshaw, has maintained that he was nowhere near the area police said illegal guns, ammunition and drugs were found on September 15, 2016.

Bradshaw, of Storey Gap, Codrington Hill, St Michael and co-accused Brian Barry King, of No 18 Hillside Princess Royal Avenue, St Michael are on trial in the No. 2 Supreme Court, jointly charged with possession of a .357 revolver, a .22 revolver, and a 9 mm pistol, along with 678 rounds of ammunition.

They are also facing charges of possession and trafficking 37.9 kilogrammes of cannabis.

According to the evidence given in court, the illegal items and contraband, which were inside feed bags and packed in the backseat of a pickup truck, were seized at No. 2 Blades Hill, St Philip. The court heard that King was held at the scene while Bradshaw escaped but was later apprehended.

But in a statement to the nine jurors hearing the evidence in his case before Justice Randall Worrell, Bradshaw said that on September 15, 2016, after tending to his animals, he left home around 3:30 p.m. and caught a pickup at the bottom of Storey Gap and proceeded to town. He said in town he took another pickup and ventured to the Gall Hill, Christ Church area.

“My reasons for going to that area is because I was trying to solicit the sale of some . . . rams and to purchase another ram . . . . I arrived there about minutes to 5 o’clock and I spend the rest of that time until the police came late in the night and arrested me.

“When the police arrived, they asked everybody to get on the ground. I proceed to do that and then they asked for the persons’ names. Upon giving my name as Peter Bradshaw, they say ‘this is the person that they are looking for and took me into custody’.

“I was nowhere in Blades Hill at the time I am accused of, neither did I travel in any vehicle to collect any bags to Storey Gap and go to Blades Hill at that time,” he told the jury.

The case, which is being prosecuted by Senior Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas, will continue on Thursday when Bradshaw is expected to call his witnesses, followed by King giving his defence.

Bradshaw is self-represented while King has Dr Lenda Blackman, Simon Clarke, and Ken Mason as his attorneys.

The post Peter Bradshaw says he was not at scene where police discovered guns, drugs and ammo appeared first on Barbados Today.

High Court Justice Carlisle Greaves wants to see legislation passed to allow the courts to more easily impose costs for contempt, as part of a wider reform of the judicial system.

He made the call on Wednesday, as he experienced several stumbling blocks in starting matters set to be heard in his No. 3 Supreme Court, including tardiness on the part of defence counsel.

“We have to reform our judicial system. One of the laws that has to be put forward is the contempt law . . . to deal with that, like in America where you can summarily impose cost  . . . without the rigmarole of going through a big long contempt [process],” the judge said.

After briefly expressing his view on the matter, Justice Greaves went on to deal with the case of two robbery accused, one of whom took responsibility for the crime.

John Seymour Ricardo Griffith, of 3rd Avenue Dash Gap, Bank Hall, St Michael, admitted to robbing Steve Yearwood of a chain, a bracelet, a bangle and a cellular phone, with a total value of $7 200, on December 1, 2010, in St Lucy.

However, his co-accused, Kirk Laron Rudder, of Martindales Road, St Michael, said he was not guilty of the charge.

Griffith also admitted to separate charges. He pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding Yearwood with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to do serious bodily harm to him, as well as using a firearm without a valid licence.

Attorney-at-law Justin Leacock, who is representing Griffith, requested that a pre-sentencing report be ordered on his client.

His sentencing has been set for May 20. Before that, on May 9, the custody and antecedent records for the convicted man who is presently on remand at Dodds should be submitted to the court.

Justice Greaves also instructed that sentencing submissions be made in writing to the court by May 18 for the prosecution and by May 19 for the defence.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Senior Crown Counsel Neville Watson said he would make a decision with regards to accused Rudder, who is represented by attorney-at-law Lalu Hanuman, on the next date.

The post Judge wants law to deal with costs for contempt appeared first on Barbados Today.

The case of eight men accused of murdering primary school teacher Dwight Holder more than six years ago has been deemed a priority by a High Court judge as he set September 12 for the matter to go before a jury.

“This is a priority trial. It takes precedence over all other matters in all courts; it will proceed with or without counsel and any accused who fails to appear will be arrested and remanded in custody until such time as a trial can commence,” Justice Carlisle Greaves declared on Wednesday.

He made the order in the No. 3 Supreme Court after three of the defence attorneys in the case against the eight St Michael men were a no-show when the case was called.

Rasheed Jabar Gittens and Akeem Adrian Gittens, both of Belleview Gap, Station Hill; Ayo Prince Bascombe, of Headleys Land, Bank Hall; Adrian Antonio Watts, of Windsor Road, Bank Hall; Brandon Damon Joseph, of Beckwith Street, the City; Kemal Mario Straker, of #15 Clapham Park; Nicholas Ricardo Clarke, of 2nd Avenue Gooding Road, Station Hill; and Rio Richian Jelani Benn, of Upper Dukes Alley, Vine Street, The City, have been accused of murdering Holder on August 6, 2015.

The 30-year-old was shot while at the corner of Longford Place and Bedford Land, Bush Hall, St Michael.

Director of Public Prosecutions Donna Babb-Agard Q.C. is prosecuting the case along with Crown Counsel Romario Straker.

All the accused men are represented by legal counsel.

The post Men accused of killing teacher to go on trial in September appeared first on Barbados Today.

The case against Syberton Marcelle Miller who is accused of fatally stabbing her husband back in 2018 was called before the No. 3 Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The woman, who is in her late 60s, is on remand at Dodds charged in connection with the murder of her 68-year-old spouse, Cecil Miller, whose body was discovered by police in the couple’s home.

The accused, a resident of No. 92, 5th Avenue Rowans Park North, St George, allegedly committed the capital offence between September 17 and 18, 2018.

Before Justice Carlisle Greaves on Wednesday, her attorney-at-law Arthur Holder disclosed that the presentencing and psychological reports ordered on his client had been received. He, however, asked to question the doctor who conducted one of the assessments on certain matters.

As such, Justice Greaves adjourned the case, which is being prosecuted by Senior Crown Counsel Neville Watson, until April 25 for mention.

The post Elderly woman to face court for fatally stabbing husband appeared first on Barbados Today.

A $20 000 fine was imposed on a Canadian woman who imported almost $100 000 worth of marijuana into Barbados last week.

Dahlia Aneese Williams, of No. 1990 Whites Road, Pickering, Ontario, had to pay the sum imposed by Magistrate Elwood Watts forthwith to avoid spending the alternative of 18 months in prison at Dodds. However, it was not immediately paid and she was sent to the St Philip penal institution.

For the offences of possession of 12.4 kilogrammes of cannabis, she was convicted, reprimanded and discharged. The same sentence was imposed on her for the charges of intent to supply and trafficking.

Williams arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport on March 24 and was sent to customs officials for her bags to be searched.

Sergeant Victoria Taitt, who read the facts before the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court located at St Matthias, said that during the search, 33 vacuum-sealed packages containing the drug were found among her clothing in a suitcase.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $99 200.

The post Canadian woman fined for bringing in cannabis appeared first on Barbados Today.

Attorney-at-law Norman Leroy Lynch denies any theft of a client’s money although he does not know what happened to the funds on his clients’ account.

“I did not steal money belonging to the estate of Arthur Thomas. I cannot say what happened to my account or the monies on them,” the accused lawyer told the jury hearing the evidence in his theft and money laundering trial.

Lynch is accused of stealing $50 000 belonging to the estate of Arthur O’Neal Thomas between August 18, 2005 and December 21, 2008. He is also charged with stealing $407 634, the proceeds of a FirstCaribbean International Bank cheque made payable to Leroy Lynch and belonging to Thomas’ estate between June 22, 2007 and December 21, 2008.

Further, the lawyer is accused of money laundering in the disposal of $457 634, being the proceeds of crime, also between June 22, 2007 and December 21, 2008.

Addressing the jury on Thursday in the proceedings presided over by Justice Randall Worrell, the accused stated his profession and said he had never been in trouble with the law.

He explained that he practiced on his own from early 1980 “until I became ill and breakdown” sometime in March 2007.

“I don’t even recall ever going back to the office, certainly not practicing,” Lynch said from a prepared statement.

“Since then, when interviewed by several police officers a few times I could not give a detailed response because I could not recall. I couldn’t remember. Plus I got tired.

“After my . . . collapse I did not have sole conduct of my practice at times. I believe the staff managed matters in my absence. Sometime between the collapse and the police interviews I was referred to a psychiatrist but did not attend because of the stigma involved,” he said.

His attorneys Marlon Gordon, Rico Blackman and Michelle Gibson then called his doctor to give evidence on his behalf.

Dr Sharon Marie Watson, a general practitioner, told the No. 2 Supreme Court that she had seen Lynch “periodically” since July 17, 1998 and had been treating him for hypertension.

She revealed that she saw Lynch in May 2009 and referred him to psychiatrist Dr Richard Corbin.

Under Cross Examination by Crown Counsel Romario Straker who is prosecuting the case with Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis, the doctor further revealed that she referred Lynch to the psychiatrist as he was complaining of “depression, with a decreased interest in normal activities”. She said he also stated that he had been “away from work for a period of approximately two years”.

Dr Watson stated that she was not a mental health expert and as such made the referral after listening to her client but she never made a specific diagnosis of her own, adding that she was aware that he did not go to the doctor to whom he had been referred.

Asked whether Lynch had, in the years of 2006 and 2007, complained of any mental health issues Dr Watson replied “no” but noted her patient said he lacked energy and felt “tired”.

“On no occasion did I give him any time off from work,” she said with regards to 2007.

Station Sergeant Roger Craigg who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at Central Police Station was also called to the witness stand.

The officer stated that he was not able to locate the station dairy relating to Lynch for the period March 10 and 11, 2011.

The defence then closed its case following which Justice Worrell adjourned the matter until Tuesday, April 5 when attorneys on both sides will address the jury.

The post Lawyer says he suffered ‘breakdown’; denies stealing client’s money appeared first on Barbados Today.

Brian Barry King said he was “shocked” at the contents of bags found in the back seat of a hired truck that he was driving when police cut them open over five years ago.

He was giving his unsworn statement from the dock of the No. 2 Supreme Court on Thursday when the guns, ammunition and drugs trial against him and a co-accused continued.

King, of No 18 Hilltop, Pinelands, St Michael and Adrian Fitzgerald Bradshaw, also known as Peter Bradshaw, of Storey Gap, Codrington Hill, St Michael are facing nine jurors and Justice Randall Worrell on several charges.

They are jointly charged with possession of a .357 revolver, a .22 revolver, and a 9 mm pistol, along with 678 rounds of ammunition.

The two are also charged with possession and trafficking of 37.9 kilogrammes of cannabis.

According to the evidence given by police, the illegal items and contraband, which were inside feed bags and packed in the backseat of a pickup truck, were seized at No. 2 Blades Hill, St Philip. The court heard that King was held at the scene while Bradshaw escaped but was later apprehended.

King told the court that he does not own a vehicle but had access to one and had used it on September 15, 2016.

He said that in the past he assisted another man, whose name he called, when that person had transportation issues. At  that time, the man was nursing a broken hand.

“I received a phone call from (name withheld) to assist his friend to move some clothes, household items to his house in Blades Hill where he will be staying for a bit.

“He gave me directions to Storey Gap. As I got to Storey Gap, the friend, which I don’t know his name, told me he was going to get the clothes, household items and stuff but my vehicle is too small so he would need a bigger vehicle,” said King who added that the man telephoned someone else who had a hired truck.

“He ask me to take him to Pioneer Road to collect the said hired truck that he spoke to the gentleman about. He and the gentleman made arrangements to take my car to Blades Hill,” he revealed.

King said he proceeded to Storey Gap where the man moved the bags into the backseat of the hired vehicle.

“While putting the bags into the vehicle I didn’t see any drugs, or smell anything to alert of cannabis or anything [like] that, so I just headed to Blades Hill.

“On arrival to Blades Hill I got out of the vehicle. I gave the gentleman the key for the said truck. I started walking to go to where I was to pick up my vehicle and at the time is where, after standing waiting on my vehicle, Mr Boyce [Sergeant Kevin Boyce] walk and came to me and said that I was under arrest for suspicion of cannabis, veg matter suspected to be drugs.

“I was walked back . . . to the left back door of the vehicle where he (Boyce) opened the bags and at this present point is where he left me in full shock . . . . He asked me to account for the bags and I told him I know nothing of the bags or what is in the bags,” said the accused who added that he was subsequently transported to the Glebe Police Station where he was interviewed about guns, drugs and ammunition.

“Where I again told Mr Boyce I know nothing of these drugs and guns and ammunition,” he added.

Dr Lenda Blackman, who is representing King along with attorneys Simon Clarke and Ken Mason, then closed their case.

On Wednesday Bradshaw gave his unsworn statement saying that he was “nowhere in Blades Hill at the time I am accused of, neither did I travel in any vehicle to collect any bags to Storey Gap and go to Blades Hill at that time”.

Today, he then called one witness before closing his case.

Prosecutor Senior Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas, Dr Blackman and Bradshaw who is representing himself are expected to make their closing addresses to the jury on Monday.

The post Driver denies knowing about guns, drugs and ammo appeared first on Barbados Today.

Adrian Michael Black on Thursday told the High Court he was not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter in the stabbing death of Victor Husbands almost two years ago.

Black, 34, of Thompson Gap, Codrington Hill, St Michael entered the plea when he was arraigned before Madam Justice Pamela Beckles in the No. 5 Supreme Court this morning.

Husbands, 60, was stabbed to death on June 29, 2020 and his body was found in a track in the same district.

The facts of the case are to be outlined by Principal Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney on Monday, April 4.

In the meantime, a pre-sentencing report has been ordered and expected to be presented to the court on May 18.

Black’s antecedents, if any, and the time he has already spent on remand at Dodds in connection with the charge, have also been requested.

The convicted man is represented by attorneys-at-law Faith Greaves and Dr Lenda Blackman.

The post Black admits to killing appeared first on Barbados Today.

Adrian Michael Black says he was provoked and was defending himself when he stabbed 60-year-old Victor Husbands to death on June 29, 2020.

“He tell me I is a madman, he gine beat me. He tek up my fanta, starting coming in my face [saying], ‘I gine beat ya, I gine beat ya’. He say ya want to fight and start coming in my face and bare golf balls was coming in my face and ting. I drew my knife and started jucking him up. I didn’t mean for that but that’s how it turn out, that’s the truth.

“He mek me feel hurt. A man that I never do nothing, tell nothing, been respectful to all my life, take it upon himself to interfere with me. I defend myself in my own right,” the Thompson Gap, Codrington Hall, St Michael resident told police when he was interviewed regarding the incident.

The details of the interview were revealed before the No. 5 Supreme Court on Monday as Principal Crown Counsel Kyrstal Delaney outlined the facts before Madam Justice Pamela Beckles.

The prosecutor told the court that Black was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder from the age of 17. He was an outpatient at the Psychiatric Hospital and visited the hospital every two weeks for medication.

The deceased was known to many as Kimble and had no fixed place of abode. His sister said while he did not have any known sickness she sensed something was wrong given his behaviour a month prior to his death.

On the date of the incident, Black was at the residence of a neighbour around 10 p.m. where several other men had also gathered. Kimble showed up and asked for another man who was not present. According to the evidence given to police, he was “ranting” about cassettes that he had given to the man.

Husbands then asked for a cigarette. The item was on the veranda and belonged to Black. After he was given the item he started telling Black about his mental health condition, that he was a mental patient and depended on medication. He also insulted Black on his religion, physical appearance, going as far as calling him a pig and threatening to beat him. He also falsely accused the man of beating his mother but Black ignored him.

People present intervened but Husbands continued his behaviour, relentlessly insulting Black who, although he did not respond, began to get upset and started to pace.

Delaney said Black then left the area and went home and returned shortly after with a clear bag containing Fanta, which he placed on the wall.

Eventually Husbands said he was leaving and as he was walking by he asked Black if he had weed in his hand.  He told Black to give him something to smoke or he would beat him and take it away.

He then suddenly pushed his hand in the bag and took out some of what was inside and snatched the wrapper which was in Black’s hand, then called him “soft ass”.

However, as he walked away the accused grabbed him and started making stabbing motions about Husbands’ body with a wooden handle knife.

An ambulance was summoned and arrived at the scene around 11:35 p.m. but a check revealed no signs of life. Husbands was subsequently pronounced dead.

At his house Black’s mother woke up to his pacing. When she asked him what happened he reportedly told her that he was at a friend’s house when Kimble interfered with him, kept provoking him. He told her he had stabbed Husbands in the neck and ‘he bleed out’.

He was arrested the following morning as his mother was preparing to take him to the police station.

During his interview with lawmen Black told police that “I sorry for what I do.”

The prosecutor said that a post mortem was conducted on Husbands and found that he had sustained 15 stab wounds to the body namely left arm, fingers, chest, neck, jaw, and upper back. One of these wounds, according to the doctor who performed the assessment, was to the heart causing massive hemorrhage.  Cause of death was given as hemorrhage secondary to multiple stab wounds.

Delaney stated that the prosecution had accepted Black’s plea of not guilty to murder but guilty of manslaughter on the basis of “provocation”.

She explained that the deceased “relentlessly insulted” Black that night, on his mental health, religion, physical appearance, threatened to beat him and challenged him to fight. This verbal abuse she said went on for a length of time according to the evidence given.

“In the opinion of the state, the verbal abuse by the deceased was such that it would cause a reasonable person imbued with the characteristics of the accused to lose self-control. It is therefore on this basis that the state accepts the plea of guilty to manslaughter,” she told the court.

Black, who is presented by attorney-at-law Faith Greaves, will reappear before Justice Beckles on May 25. That is also when the prosecution and defence will make submissions on sentencing.  A pre-sentencing report and a psychiatric report as well as a report on the time he has spent on remand have been requested in preparation for sentencing.

The post Manslayer was “relentlessly insulted” on night he stabbed man to death appeared first on Barbados Today.

The High Court has imposed a $15 000 fine on a mother and her two daughters who were convicted of injuring another woman over eight years ago.

Justice Randall Worrell has ordered Octavia Nurse and her daughters Tamisha and Nikita Gooding, all from Four Roads, St Philip pay the sum by July 29.

However, $9 000 of the total sum must be paid by April 22 and the remaining $6 000 in three months.

The trio have also been put on notice that they may be called upon to pay costs to the court.

Following a trial in June last year the three were convicted by a nine-member jury of unlawfully causing serious bodily harm to Channa Weekes with intent to maim, disfigure or disable her or to do some serious bodily harm to her on June 20, 2013.

The three were represented by defense attorney Kendrid Sargeant while Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis prosecuted the matter.

During the trial, Weekes said she did not know the reason for the attack. She recalled that she was standing with a male that night near De Juice Spot in her community, when Tamisha began quarrelling with them.

Weekes said she “flung” off her hand and told the woman to get out her face but she never hit her.

Sometime later, Weekes went to a car and saw Octavia and Nikita and the situation escalated.

“Nikita came up and give me the first stab. Nikita struck me here,” she said as she pointed to the left side of her forehead.

“Octavia started hitting me and I was trying to get her off of me . . . Nikita was hitting me with an object,” Weekes told the court.

The post Family fined for harming woman appeared first on Barbados Today.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes has suggested that parents who physically settle disputes in full view of children are creating “war zones” in households.

“If we can’t get the family right, we can’t get anything right,” he cautioned in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court where he presided over the case in which Jonathan Anston Harper, of Jackson Terrace Stage 1, St Michael pleaded guilty to assaulting Tennisha Worrell – the mother of his two children – causing her bodily harm on April 2.

The 29-year-old man also admitted to damaging two pairs of shoes belonging to the woman without lawful excuse on the same day. They were valued at $135.

Sergeant Randolph Boyce told the court that the two were in a relationship that ended in March and had an agreement that Worrell would remain at the residence until July this year until her accommodations were ready.

But according to the facts, Harper looked on her phone and saw certain information. Following this, the woman decided that she would leave and this caused Harper to become irate and he began to beat her about the body. She was able to escape but on her return found the shoes damaged.

Harper told the court that while he did hit Worrell it was in “self defence” and he was “provoked”. He was also adamant that he did not look at anything on her phone and beat her.

The young man said after the relationship came to an end they had designated certain spaces in the household for each of them. He said he was in the room that was to be “his space” when Worrell came in to press and he told her to leave. He went into another room where the children were, in a bid to turn off the electricity but she followed. He then asked her for the house keys, she said ‘no’.

“I did snatch at the keys,” he said, adding that they were attached to a purse.

“She pulled me into her and started kicking at me. I pulled her off the bed in self defence and I pinned her on the wall with my weight. She swung at me, I lost balance and I throw her unto the bed . . . she started kicking again. I did hit her and I left the room,” he explained adding that “I did lose my composure.”

He explained that Worrell could have gotten the injuries to her neck, back, forearm and shoulder while he defended himself. “I did hit back when she was attacking me . . . kicking . . . swinging her hands at me.” Harper also disclosed that the children witnessed some of what had happened.

Chief Magistrate Weekes questioned why when women raised their hands on men they did not go to the police and file a report for assault adding that he did not condone men putting their hands on women nor women putting their hands on men.

“Wunna creating war zones in the houses. When wunna create these war zones wunna unleashing terrorists on the society.

“If wunna can’t get along, wunna can’t beat each other in front of the children because that is a blueprint for an uncivilized society and I don’t think wunna understand that,” said Weekes.

“A lot of wunna will come in here and see men charged for firearms. It ain’t start when they are charged for firearm you know, it started in the family . . .when wunna ain’t send the children to church. It starts when wunna call them little man and don’t understand that when they are doing things they are subject to discipline. That is where it starts.

“Wunna got to do something so that this society doesn’t go further downhill. . . We have tolerance in this place now for all the wrong things.

“The family is a significant institution, if we can’t get the family right we can’t get anything right. If you all do this for long, it comes right back.

“Raise a good family, follow the principles and this society will be a good place,” the judicial officer explained.

He told Harper that both he and Worrell needed counseling as this was “foolish behaviour”. Harper is now on $2 500 bail and is to stay away from the complainant until they return to court on May 20. He has agreed to reside elsewhere for the time being.

The Chief Magistrate also raised concern that the police were “too much involved” in domestic matters.

“Not their fault but because wunna cannot run wunna households in an orderly manner, wunna bringing out the police to do a lot of domestic work.”

The post Magistrate warns domestic violence playing out in presence of children ‘unleashes terrorists’ on society appeared first on Barbados Today.

A man who imported $8 000 worth of marijuana in bags of flour for “medical use” has been given a 12-month prison sentence which has been suspended for 24 months.

First-time offender Lester Elon Harewood, of Free Hill, St George pleaded guilty to trafficking in, possession and possession with intent to supply and importation of the one kilogramme of the illegal vegetable substance.

On April 4 officials from the Customs and Excise Department informed police of barrels bearing Harewood’s name. Sergeant Shane Chase said lawmen were called in after a check of the contents uncovered the marijuana in bags of flour. Harewood was shown the contents and admitted ownership.

On Wednesday, the convicted man told Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, “Everything is mine. I bring it for my medical use. I infuse it in coconut oil and using it as an [anti]-inflammatory for my swollen colon and it does help.”

He also admitted that no doctor had prescribed the drug as medicine. He claimed that when he resided in Toronto, a doctor told him it could help, and so he had been purchasing it from a shop.

“But you are in Barbados we don’t get it so,” said the Chief Magistrate who stated that “a lot of people” felt that because there was a medicinal cannabis industry established in Barbados it meant that they “could grow cannabis in their backyard” but that was not the case.

“The people have set up a regulatory regime where you apply so that there will be controls in place,” Weekes stated.

Harewood said, “I am sorry sir.” He explained that he had been diagnosed with having an enlarged colon ten years ago.

“I didn’t bring nothing to sell,” he added.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months on the importation charge. He was reprimanded and discharged on the other three offences.

The post Suspended sentence for “medicinal” drug appeared first on Barbados Today.

Henderson Ricardo Austin, who had no fixed place of abode up to Wednesday, will have a roof over his head for the next 28 days and possibly for much longer.

Austin, who disclosed that he is a habitual cocaine user, was remanded to Dodds prison, pending sentencing, after pleading guilty to 11 break-ins, the majority of which were committed this year.

He first broke into the Bay Primary School between May 28 and 29, 2019, and stole $7 belonging to the State. He targeted the school again between March 21 and 22 this year, this time stealing a case of juice and 15 soft drinks worth $78.

On Christmas Eve last year, he stole a bag and 40 bottles of tablets worth $2 100 from the Welches Chiropractic Clinic belonging to Michael Cumberbatch.

During the January 7 to 24 period, he also entered Med Plus Medical Centre with intent to steal, as well as Chosen One Day Care where he stole $300. He also entered Franklyn House twice – once with intent to steal and on another occasion making off with $100 belonging to Ambrose Ramsay. In the following month – February 12 and 13 – he burglarised Tender Dental Services and got away with $5.

Between March 11 and 24, he stole $1 632 in items from Integrated Technical Services; $405.62 worth of items including foodstuff from Shawn Brathwaite’s house; and $2 490 worth of items, including alcoholic beverages and chicken wings, from the Cool Square Sports Bar belonging to Kevel Evans-Lewis.

Austin will return before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on May 4 when Sergeant Shane Chase will outline the facts of the case before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes. The prosecutor, however, informed the court that the circumstances of all the break-ins were similar.

When told that he would be sentenced on the next occasion, Austin, who is known to the court stated: “I got a drug problem. I am a habitual user of cocaine.”

He explained that he was before the court in 2019 and was sent to Dodds where he was enrolled in the drug programme but “nothing happened” and he was released in 2021.

The post Man accused of 11 break-ins appeared first on Barbados Today.

Adrian Fitzgerald Bradshaw and Brian Barry King are free men.

After just over an hour of deliberation, a nine-member jury found Bradshaw, alias Peter Bradshaw, of Storey Gap, Codrington Hill, St Michael and King, of No 18 Hilltop, Pinelands, St Michael, not guilty of all the charges in a six-count indictment that included ammunition, firearms and cannabis offences.

The verdict came just around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday after a full day of a summation by trial judge Justice Randall Worrell. This resulted in Bradshaw, who had been on remand at Dodds since his arrest back in 2016, being released. King was on bail.

The two were on trial in the No. 2 Supreme Court jointly charged with possession of a .357 revolver, a .22 revolver, and a 9 mm pistol, along with 678 rounds of ammunition and well as possession and trafficking of 37.9 kilogrammes of cannabis on September 15, 2016.

In the evidence given by police, the guns, bullets, and drugs were inside feed bags and packed in the backseat of a pickup truck driven by King and seized at No. 2 Blades Hill, St Philip. King was held at the scene while the evidence was that Bradshaw escaped but was later apprehended.

In his defence, Bradshaw, who represented himself, was able to convince the jury that he was “nowhere in Blades Hill at the time I am accused of, neither did I travel in any vehicle to collect any bags to Storey Gap and go to Blades Hill at that time”.

King’s attorneys Dr Lenda Blackman, Simon Clarke and Ken Mason were successful in their defence that their client, who was moving items for another man, knew “nothing of these drugs and guns and ammunition”.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas.

The post Bradshaw, King acquitted of gun, ammo, drug charges appeared first on Barbados Today.

The theft and money laundering trial of attorney-at-law Norman Leroy Lynch has been adjourned until April 25 when jurors hearing the case will resume duty.

The case was called on Friday before Justice Randall Worrell in the No. 2 Supreme Court, but attorneys in the case – prosecutors Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis and Crown Counsel Romario Straker, along with Marlon Gordon, Rico Blackman, and Michelle Gibson for the defence – have been addressing legal matters in the absence of the jury.

Lynch is accused of engaging in money laundering in the disposal of $457 634, being the proceeds of crime, between June 22, 2007, and December 21, 2008.

Over the same period, it is also alleged that he stole $407 634, being the proceeds of a FirstCaribbean International Bank cheque made payable to Leroy Lynch and belonging to the estate of Arthur O’Neal Thomas.

The lawyer is further charged with stealing another $50 000 between August 18, 2005, and December 21, 2008, also belonging to Thomas’ estate.

He has denied all the charges.

The post Lawyer’s case adjourned appeared first on Barbados Today.

Six years ago Deshawn Shaquille Harper told police he was the one who “cuffed” another man in his face and “brek he nose bridge”.

Today, before Justice Randal Worrell the 1st Avenue Fairfield, St Michael resident pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting serious bodily harm on Derrick Reid on February 27, 2016.

He had also been facing the charge of causing serious bodily harm to Reid with intent to main, disfigure or disable him or to do some serious bodily harm to him. Harper pleaded not guilty to that offence.

Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis accepted the guilty plea on behalf of the state and revealed that the incident took place at a bus stop near Oistins Bay Garden.

Reid, she said, was near the steps of the stage in the area among other people when he noticed Harper, whom he knew, looking in his direction in an aggressive manner. He ignored him.

Just after midnight he made his way to the bus stop and soon after saw Harper again standing not too far from him along with other males. They approached him and Harper punched him in the left eye and the others began to beat on him causing a beer bottle that he was holding to drop and break.

According to the facts Reid picked up a piece of the bottle and started slashing and was able to escape through an opening between the men and made his escape. It was only afterwards that he realised that he was missing some of his jewelry.

Reid reported the matter to the police and he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. While there he saw Harper again who he said told him “This ain’t done here.” He pointed out his attacker to the police.

Reid was treated for a fractured nose and soft tissue injury to the face and left eye. The doctor’s report said the degree of force used was moderate to severe.

Harper was detained. He declined his right to an attorney and was questioned after not giving a written statement.

He was told of the report made and he replied, “That is me. I is who cuff he. I ain’t got to tell no lies. I is who brek his nose bridge and kick he in he chest.”

Answering more questions posed to him by lawmen, Harper said, he knew ‘Rasta’ [Reid] for many years.

“Me and Rasta always in some dispute or the other and I always call he a p***y. Nobody ain’t beat he but me. I is who give he lefts and rights and I is who kick he down, because he cuff me in my face. . . . This happen right by the bus stop in Oistins.”

He also told police that no other men “gathered round Rasta. “It did me that cuff he and kick he bout.”

The case against Harper will continue before the No. 2 Supreme Court on April 29. The first-time offender has waived his right to have a pre-sentencing report done.

The post Harper admits beating another man and fracturing his nose in Oistins appeared first on Barbados Today.

Social activist and convicted fraudster Winston Decourcey Clarke has apologised for a nine-year-old criminal act and is expected to know his fate on Tuesday, April 12.

Clarke, of 7th Avenue New Orleans, St Michael had previously pleaded guilty to uttering to Neo Graphics four bank notes purporting to be issued by the Central Bank of Barbados, knowing them to be forged, and obtaining money on the forged instruments, on March 22, 2013.

According to the facts the notes were given to the business for the printing of a banner requested by Clarke who is also a graphics artist. When an official of the business went to deposit the money at the bank, she was informed it was counterfeit.

The businesswoman then contacted Clarke and told him about the development. He responded saying that he did not know the money was counterfeit but asked for the receipt that the bank had given her. She refused.

“I am extremely sorry for what has transpired. I am hoping to make amends . . . . I am hoping that I can consistently make amends towards society to those whom my activities would have affected. I ask that the court has mercy on me in this matter,” Clarke said before Justice Randall Worrell recently.

He told the No. 2 Supreme court he had been doing business with the small business owner for “years” therefore it was not “intentional”.

“I ask please for forgiveness again, and perhaps a break . . . and I ask the court for forgiveness and I ask her for forgiveness,” he added.

Before his apology Clarke’s attorney Rashida Edwards, who mitigated on his behalf, said while he had several previous convictions involving dishonesty he had changed his life around.

“Mr Clarke is not the man that he was some four years ago. Since being admitted to bail he has found gainful employment, he works as a legal clerk . . . He is studying . . . to become a paralegal. Additionally Mr Clarke has become an activist since the [COVID-19] pandemic taking on several social justice projects that he believes are worth fighting for,” the lawyer revealed. She said her client had also started a project seeking to rehabilitate persons who suffer from substance abuse issues.

“He believes that he is qualified to do so because he has been where they have been. He has suffered . . . substance abuse issues . . . but has been sober for seven years and is hoping to pass on these lessons to these persons free of charge,” the defence attorney added.

She submitted that the High Court should impose a two-year starting sentence on her client for the crimes, from which a one-third discount should be given for his guilty plea and the time he had spent on remand at Dodds should be deducted, leaving him with a sentence of time served.

The attorney noted that if the court was not minded to consider that sentence then a fine in the region of $500 should be imposed.

Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis agreed with the two-year starting point. But she argued that if the court was minded to impose a fine it should be one of $750 and for Clarke to also pay cost to the court.

The post Clarke wants to make amends appeared first on Barbados Today.

A man who is on trial before the High Court accused of importing four firearms and over a hundred rounds of ammunition says he’s no rebel or gang member and has “never even touched a firearm” in his life.

Emil Bernard Williams, of Elizabeth Park, Christ Church made the utterances before a nine-member jury and Justice Carlisle Greaves on Monday as he continued to give an unsworn statement from the dock of the No. 3 Supreme Court.

Williams is alleged to have imported a 7.62 Russian calibre, semi-automatic pistol; a .38 special calibre revolver; a 9 mm Luger semi-automatic pistol; a .40 Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol and 103 rounds of ammunition on April 17, 2012. He is further alleged to have conspired with other persons to import the firearms and ammunition.

“I am not a rebel or a bad person that looks to be in trouble or has ever been in trouble,” Williams said.

He stated that when he was detained by police there were “some roaches and butts” in the vehicle’s ashtray, referring to the unsmoked ends of rolled marijuana joints or spliffs.

“But it can’t even make a spliff. Instead of throwing the roaches through the window I put them in the ashtray, a couple of them. They found it in there and they held that against me.

“I was never a gun-toting man . . . I ain’t affiliated with no bad boys. I work hard for everything I have . . . nothing was given to me for free, nothing was never given to me easily.

“In terms of the guns I never even touch a firearm in my life, that’s the honest truth. I have never in my life touched a firearm. I have seen it around me and what not . . . but I have no need for a firearm, not even a legal firearm much less an illegal one.

“The amount of firearms and ammunition in the case, what I doing with that? What could I be doing with it? A man like me . . . I am not a gang member . . . what would I be doing with these guns? What would I be doing with a hundred and something rounds of ammunition? I ain’t no trouble tree …I does try to live correct, try to do the right thing,” he told the court.

Williams added that he has two prior convictions both for small amounts of cannabis, one for which he received a bond and the other a “five-bag” when he was a young for which probation was imposed.

“Other than that I don’t get in any trouble at all … in my whole 44 years,” he added.

At the end of his statement, Williams’ attorneys Andrew Pilgrim Q.C. and Martie Garnes called one witness before closing the case for the defence.

Crown Counsel Romario Straker is prosecuting the matter.

Attorneys on both sides will address the jury on Tuesday.

The post Accused tells court he has ‘never touched’ a gun in his life appeared first on Barbados Today.

A teenager who admitted to having a loaded weapon hidden in his underwear last February must write an essay for the High Court, detailing his plans for his future if released from Dodds prison.

Justice Randall Worrell put the stipulation in place after Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis submitted that Ranaldo Narico Roberts of Factory Avenue, Wildey, St Michael “required direction and a plan for the future”, despite the sentence imposed on him.

Roberts has one week to get the document ready and is set to reappear before Justice Worrell on April 22.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty on Tuesday to having a .380 auto calibre pistol and six rounds of ammunition in his possession on February 22, 2021.

The prosecutor in the case, Davis, told the No. 2 Supreme Court that officers were on mobile patrol in the young man’s community when they saw him riding a motorcycle with a pillion rider. On seeing the police, the pillion rider consistently tapped Roberts’ shoulder, which caused lawmen to become suspicious.

Roberts stopped the bike and the pillion rider ran off. As police approached the teenager, he too tried to run but was apprehended. He was observed fidgeting with his pants which led to a search and a firearm was found.

“I find that last week down by the Errol Barrow Park,” he told police when asked to account for the gun, adding that the ammunition was in the weapon when he found it.

Mitigating on his behalf, attorney-at-law Simon Clarke told the court that Roberts was “not beyond reform” and if presented with an opportunity could still make a valuable contribution to society.

The defence attorney revealed that his client, who was deemed at medium risk of reoffending, had indicated several plans to earn a skill and actively seek employment on his release.

Roberts, he said, who previously worked with a family member at a carwash business, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, was contrite and thrown himself at the mercy of the court.

Clarke submitted that Roberts’ case fell within an “exceptional category below the normal range” as there was no evidence that the firearm was to be used in any criminal activity or connected to any crime, nor was he linked to any violence involving the use of a firearm.

He added that the mitigating factors of the offender vastly outweighed the aggravating features.

“We ask that you temper justice with mercy [and] impose a non-custodial sentence in the form of a fine of $15 000 for the firearm and $5 000 for the ammunition payable within six months …,” Clarke said.

In her submissions on sentencing, Davis said the State was of view that the offence was due to “idleness and lack of direction” on Roberts’ part and those factors should be featured in any sentence imposed.

“The State is of the view that this offender requires direction and a plan for the future and, all things considered, rehabilitation appears likely in relation to this now-convicted man. There is no impediment that I can see on the file and as such, it will be up to the now-convicted man and his future decision-making,” Davis stated, adding that the prosecution had acknowledged that Roberts was only 18 years old at the time of the crime and had no previous convictions.

The prosecutor further submitted that a starting sentence of nine years in prison be imposed with the necessary deductions, including for his guilty plea and the time he had spent on remand. Coupled with that sentence, she said, should be an undertaking of either an educational course or skills training to prepare Roberts for his return to society.

However, Davis said, if the court was minded to impose a fine on the basis that Roberts was a first-time offender, it should be in the region of $40 000 and could be adjusted when other factors are considered.

She recommended that an educational or skills training course also be a requirement if a fine is imposed, and that Roberts should return to to update the court on completion of such a course.

Justice Worrell agreed, even as Roberts revealed that he had attained no Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) certificates and planned to join Youth Service “or something so to make a better life”.

“He has to have some sort of plan, some sort of direction, and some sort of guidance as far as this court is concerned,” he said.

“Mr Roberts is going to write to the court. . . an essay as to what you intend to do with your life should you be allowed to leave Dodds. As far as the court is concerned, you are going to have to enroll in some kind of academic institution; you are going to have to do some kind of remedial learning. . . ,” the judge added.

The post Judge instructs teen to write about the direction he intends his life to take appeared first on Barbados Today.

As of Tuesday, Kadeem Shamar Moore has two years, 345 days left to serve in jail for boldly walking in his Vauxhall, Christ Church neighbourhood with a loaded gun two years again.

That is how much time he has left of a nine-year starting sentence imposed on him by Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell after the judge took several factors into consideration, including his guilty plea and the time he had spent on remand at Dodds in connection with the offence.

“Persons walking about the neighbourhood with firearms is a danger to our culture and any information on such behaviour must be a concern to all right-thinking members of society,” Justice Smith-Bovell said.

“It is of grave concern to this court that persons feel so emboldened that they can walk about with these firearms exposed. Clearly, such behaviour will drive fear into the hearts of ordinary Barbadians and the court feels sentences must indicate that all persons so inclined to this type of behaviour that it will not be tolerated,” the judge said as she handed down the ruling in the No. 4 Supreme Court this afternoon.

It was revealed that police from the Anti-Gun Unit were on March 1, 2020 conducting investigations at Vauxhall, Christ Church following a report that two shirtless men were in possession of firearms.

While navigating a track between houses, the officers saw Moore walking towards them. He was stopped and told of the probe and a search was requested.

A grey and black .380 calibre pistol was found in the crotch area of the pants he was wearing and when asked to account for it, he responded: “Officer, you dun know how it is out here. Men want to kill we, I have to protect myself.”

Five rounds of ammunition were discovered in the gun – one in the chamber and four in the magazine.

In imposing sentence, Justice Smith-Bovell said while there was no evidence of use of the firearm, in the convicted man’s own words he had the firearm for his own protection which was a clear indication of his intention to use it should the need arise.

She also considered several aggravating factors of the offence, including that the weapon was “a dangerous one” which was loaded, in good working order and capable of firing ammunition in rapid succession [with] at least one bullet in the breach ready to be discharged.

“The weapon was in a public place in a residential neighbourhood thereby placing members of the public at risk . . . . The only mitigating factor to this offence is that the firearm was recovered,” said the judge who added that based on those factors the court considered that an objective starting point for the offence was nine years in prison.

Going in his favour was his early guilty plea, his expression of remorse and his young age.

Justice Smith-Bowell ruled that an 18-month deduction be given as the mitigating factors of the offender outweighed the aggravating factors, leaving Moore with a sentence of seven and half years or 2 737 days in prison.

He was then given a one-third discount for his guilty plea and credited for the 769 days he had already spent at Dodds, resulting in a balance of 1 055 days or two years 325 days to serve on the two-count indictment, to run concurrently from today’s date.

The judge also revealed that the court had considered the means of the first-time offender, as both prosecution and defence submitted that a fine could meet the justice of the case.

She explained that Moore and his family were interviewed in that regard. The court adjourned the matter on a number of occasions to allow the family to explore avenues to acquire funds to assist in the payment of the fine but they did not return on the last two dates to give the court an update on their progress, Justice Smith-Bovell disclosed.

“It was clear to the court even after interviewing the parties, that even if [the court] determined that this case fell within the frame to allow the fine rather than a custodial sentence, neither the now-convicted man nor his family had the means to pay a substantial fine and to pay it within a short period of time so to reflect the seriousness of the offences.

“On reviewing the facts, the court found that the circumstances of the case are so serious that it crosses a custodial threshold. A custodial sentence is the only sentence that could do justice to this case in the circumstances,” Smith-Bovell ruled.

The post Moore in prison for two more years for gun crime appeared first on Barbados Today.