$55k bail for men allegedly found with loaded firearm
Guyanese Damian Hooper, 23, of Huntums Ghut and Vincentian Corey Butler, 33, of Long Bay, West End were jointly charged with Carrying a Firearm without a License and Unlawful Possession of Explosives.
The firearm found, according to Crown Counsel Mr O’Neil Simpson in virtual court today, is a Sig Saur 9mm pistol while the explosives are 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Additional charges
Butler was also charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Drug.
Hooper was additionally charged for driving a vehicle while there was no policy of insurance in place with respect to 3rd party risk and driving without a driver’s licence.
On objection to bail
In court held via Zoom, the prosecution did not object to bail and Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin noted the offences were bailable and she was satisfied that both persons qualified for bail.
The men were each granted $55,000 bail with one surety and are to surrender all travel documents to police.
Additionally, the accused men are to report to the nearest police station every Saturday and Wednesday of every week between the hours of 6:00am and 6:00pm, bearing in mind they would need to do so before 1:00pm with the current curfew in place.
With the Prosecution noting that they would need at least a month and a half for report, the case was adjourned until June 18, 2020.
Mr Hooper is represented by attorney and former magistrate, Mrs Valerie Stephens-Gordon while Mr Butler is represented by Mr E. Leroy Jones.
More details to follow.
See link to related article:
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/2-men-charged-following-firearm-drug-find
21 Responses to “$55k bail for men allegedly found with loaded firearm”
Section 29 of the police act,of cap 165 gives the police the power to take photographs and fingerprints of persons arrested and charged for criminal offence under the law of the bvi.
When it's a case of public interest,we the people a clean and clear mugshot.
Vino is doing all the work,to publish the information,and what the police is doing?
Give vino a photo,so we can be aware of these persons in our communities and society.
There is a mandatory minimum sentence and it is a serious offence. Why would you grant bail?
1) Foreigners 2) No seat belt 3) Drugs 4) Gun 5) explosives 6) no license 7) no insurance= BAIL? WTF??????
They should be locked up forthwith because they are a danger to all of us. If they were being stupid by not wearing their seat belts, and that is what got them pulled over, what were their intentions with that gun? Something dangerously dirty I can assure you. Come on Judges, you really have to do better than this to protect we innocent people. Are these the work permits they applied for?