Lead Stories

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

One of the four men charged in connection with the guns and ammunition stolen from the police armoury pleaded guilty to breaching the Corruption Prevention Act and was given a suspended sentence.

Garnett Pennington, who is believed to be the owner of the premises on Munster Road, Kingston 2, where the find was made, was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

Attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson, who is representing Pennington, indicated to the court that it was Pennington's intention to start proceedings to become a witness for the Crown.

Pennington was sentenced by Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser. He had pleaded guilty on June 9 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court and sentencing was put off until yesterday.

The illegal possession of firearms and ammunition charges against the four have been set for trial on July 5 in the Gun Court.

The other accused are Sergeant Russell Robinson, Charles Morris and David Blagrove, civilians attached to the police armoury.

The Crown, represented by Dirk Harrison, deputy director of public prosecutions, is alleging that on February 18, firearms were found inside a motor vehicle which Robinson had driven to Munster Road. One firearm and 10,200 rounds of ammunition were reportedly found inside the house at Munster Road.

Robinson, Blagrove and Morris are facing 18 charges of illegal possession of firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

Pennington is charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. Robinson is charged with storehouse breaking and larceny, while the other men are charged with aiding and abetting storehouse breaking and larceny.

Robinson is also charged with breaching the Corruption Prevention Act. He appeared in court yesterday and was remanded to return on July 6 for a trial date to be set.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com