A prosecutor in a case where a man admitted to having two firearms and more than 100 rounds of ammunition says a custodial sentence is the only punishment befitting the crime.
“What is concerning is the ease with which persons can have firearms and ammunition in Barbados, and they are too comfortable, and it is the duty of the State and by extension the court to make these persons uncomfortable because Barbados must be safe,” State Counsel Paul Prescod said.
Carl Edgar Knight, of Knight’s Land, Lower Westbury Road, St Michael, previously appeared in the No. 4 Supreme Court and pleaded guilty to unlawfully having a 7.62×32 calibre rifle and a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol and 120 rounds of ammunition on April 1, 2022.
Prescod said: “[Knight] admitted to having the ammunition and told police he found some in Grazettes and others in Brandons, St Michael, when he found the guns. It is therefore unknown as to what his intentions to possess or use the ammunition were. But the State submits that with all this ammunition, it is suspected that [Knight] had them for supply and was gaining financially from the sale of ammunition.”
Aggravating factors, said the prosecutor, included the presence of two guns, the volume of ammunition, the variety of rounds for different firearms, Knight’s deliberate possession, and the prevalence of such offences in society.
In his favour, Prescod submitted that the firearms were not used, there was no evidence they were connected to other crimes, and that all had been recovered by police.
He proposed a 12-year starting point for the firearms and 13 years for the ammunition.
Noting that Knight had no previous convictions, had shown remorse, and was deemed at low risk of reoffending, the prosecutor suggested a one-year deduction from the starting point before factoring in remand time and a discount for the guilty plea.
Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens, representing Knight, highlighted the convicted man’s cooperation and previously clean record.
Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell set sentencing for May 15 and remanded Knight into custody.
The court heard that during a warrant execution at Knight’s residence, Anti-Gun Unit officers heard noise from the ground floor and found Knight in the bathroom. A search of a storage area under the staircase revealed a plastic bag containing several smaller bags of ammunition. When questioned, Knight admitted ownership, stating: “I find all dem tings. I put dem there. Dem is mines.”
The search continued, leading to the discovery of a Glock pistol fitted with an empty extended magazine, a rifle, and another magazine.
In his written statement, Knight said that the previous year, while walking in Grazettes, he spotted a black duffel bag that “looked out of place”. On unzipping it, he saw “a big gun”, which he found “real funny being there”. He took the bag home and found it also contained bags of ammunition, which he stored.
He said the second firearm was found when he “kicked” it while walking across Brandon’s pasture. He picked up the “small handgun”, which was wrapped in yellow tissue, and later placed it with the first gun.
When asked why he had not reported the first find, Knight said: “At that time, it was after 11, and I was going home, and I proceeded home. It was the wrong thing to do, I admit it.” On the second, he offered a similar explanation: “I did not know what it was until I opened the yellow tissue, and I was also wrong for not taking it to the police.”
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