Two young men, including a Tactical Services Unit (TSU) rank, were remanded when they appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton on charges relating to illegal possession of firearm and abduction.
Kennard Stanuel, 20, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence and Timothy Morris, 19, of 50 Cummings Street, Alberttown were both charged indictably with unlawfully discharging a loaded firearm and abducting Keon James with intent to wrongfully and secretly confine him. They also pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition without being the holder of a valid firearm licence. All of the offences were allegedly committed on April 22.
Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson represented Stanuel who is attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). According to Thompson, his client was working in the line of duty when he was wrongfully arrested and charged with the four offences. Attorney-at-law Simone Ramlall represented Morris. Both attorneys explained to the court that according to their instructions Morris was lured into an agreement to buy an amplifier from the brother of the virtual complainant (VC). The brother reportedly “ran away” with the money without giving the amplifier to Morris, who solicited the help of Stanuel. He subsequently enlisted the help of two others with the aim of finding James’s brother.
According to the lawyers, the men met James who willingly offered to help them locate his brother. James took them to his mother’s house where the occupants called the police when they saw the band of young men approaching. The lawyers said that it was difficult to perceive how two persons could be charged with discharging one firearm and that both men were severely beaten while in custody.
Magistrate Hamilton expressed surprise saying she did not believe that the police would beat their own.
Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels said the facts narrated by the defence counsel were different to hers.
She said the VC was thrown into a car at gunpoint by the accused and told to take them to his mother’s house.
Police at Brickdam were alerted to the situation and went to the La Penitence home where they found the gun and ammunition. She said a civilian saw the men drop the gun in a grassy spot on the parapet and told the police.
The men were remanded until tomorrow for report.
