A Dash Valley man who admitted to firearm and violent disorder offences absconded before sentencing and remained on the run for more than three years before being apprehended and brought back before the Supreme Court.
Corey St Clair Trotman, was hauled before the No. 4 Supreme Court on Wednesday after being apprehended by court marshals.
Trotman had previously confessed that on July 1, 2018, he used a firearm and did not have a valid licence to do so and that he used unlawful violence and his conduct was such that it would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety.
Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell read brief facts that there was a report of a shooting and, during police investigations, Trotman gave a statement admitting to being among men who were party to the incident and of being in possession of a shotgun. Trotman said he was unable to discharge the firearm and gave it to another man who discharged it into a crowd of people, resulting in one person being shot.
The judge reached a 15-year starting point for the firearm and five years for that of the violent disorder.
These were both increased by two years when the court considered the aggravating factors, including that the firearm was a shotgun, that it was loaded, in a public place, placing a danger to members of the public, that it was recklessly discharged, that an individual was shot, the prevalence of such offences and that the firearm was not recovered.
Justice Smith-Bovell said: “The court has to send a message through its sentencing to reflect Parliament’s intention that the reckless and indiscriminate use of firearms must stop.”
“Something has to be wrong with the thought process primarily of our young men who believe that they are free to discharge firearms in public without any heed or thought to innocent bystanders who may be injured from flying bullets.”
“Additionally, the now convicted man already has a conviction for possession of a firearm where he was incarcerated for seven years. He seems not to have learnt his lesson in that he finds himself charged and convicted for the use of a firearm. The court is satisfied that the seriousness of this offence warrants stiff penalties being imposed.”
The judge noted that along with that firearm conviction, Trotman had 12 other convictions, five of which were for assault, and that he had been deemed at medium to high risk of reoffending and noted that there would be no reduction for his previous indication of remorse and assurance that he was turning his life around due to his decision to abscond from the court.
The 17-year sentence for the firearm and seven-year sentence for the violent disorder charge were reduced after he was credited for his plea, the 855 days spent on remand and one year for the delay.
“The court noted that in the pre-sentence report you and your family members spoke about you turning your life around. Yet when the date for your sentencing arose, you absconded yourself from this court and remained on the run for over three years. Your appearance back in the court today is as a result of the execution of a warrant issued by this court for your non-appearance. It is clear to this court that your efforts to rehabilitate are not serious.”
He was ordered to serve seven years, 361 days for the firearm and three years, 118 days for the violent disorder offence and to enrol in vocational programmes.
Asked about his not showing before he was sentenced, Trotman told the court: “I had a little family problems and my child-mother died so I was going through alot.”
(JB)
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