Just over two years after former police officer Ettian Charles was cleared of a murder charge at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, he was jailed in the same Court for firearm and ammunition possession.
The 36-year-old Arnos Vale man was on Monday sentenced to three years in prison for possession of a .38 revolver, and six months for having six rounds of .38 ammunition without licenses.
The sentences, handed down by Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett, are to run concurrently.
Following a trial Charles was found guilty of having the gun and ammunition in his possession at Arnos Vale on September 16, 2018. He was represented by attorney Israel Bruce.
In handing down the penalties, the Senior Magistrate said there were no mitigating factors in relation to the offence. He noted that the ammunition was found in the firearm, and there was no indication that he had it for any lawful reason.
“This is a trained man. For sure he would have worked in various units of the Police Force, and know the problems firearms are causing,” stated the Magistrate.
Charles asked the Court to consider the time he spent on remand. But the Magistrate said he would make that order on Friday, July 29, as he would have to get the information.
Charles was among four men charged with the 2018 murder of Security Guard Rodney George, 50, of Victoria Village.
However, at the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into that matter was into its final stages at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, then Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche who was prosecuting agreed with the submission of attorney Grant Connell, that there was no evidence to make out a prima facie case against Charles on the charge of murder. As a result, Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett discharged Charles on the murder charge.
The other men, Ulric Hanson and Jerome Ollivierre, both of Mayreau, and Glenville Harry of Vermont were committed to stand trial in the High Court after the Senior Magistrate ruled that a prima facie case was made out for them on the murder charge.
George’s body, with throat slit, was discovered in the GEC Auto Supplies building at Arnos Vale on the morning of September 1, 2018.
All four men were committed to stand trial for entering the GEC Auto Supplies building between August 31 and September 1, 2018, and stealing EC$2,074 in cash, the property of Gevandean Wilson, the owner of the business.
Both matter were heard in one P.I.