Construction Supervisor gets three years for gun, ammo

Two years for a rifle and one year for ammunition were the custodial penalties handed down by Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman to Franklyn Gibson, a 34-year-old Construction Supervisor of Belair. Gibson was charged for having in his possession, one 44 model LSB .22 model long unlicensed rifle with telescopic sight and seven rounds of ammunition.

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On appearing before the Serious Offences Court, Gibson did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty on both charges. On March 4 2006 at about 4:15 p.m. members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) and Narcotics division were on mobile patrol in Gordon Yard on the leeward side of the island when they saw motor vehicle PM 887 being driven along the road. The motor vehicle was stopped and Gibson consented to a search. The firearm was found wrapped in a tarpaulin that was in the back of the vehicle.

Gibson told officers that he uses the rifle for hunting purposes. He also asked the officers to impose a financial penalty on him.

Lawyer Arthur Williams represented Gibson and told the Magistrate that his client had decided to take his gun apart to clean it, and that he was unaware at the time that he needed to have a license for the firearm. Williams asked Magistrate Churaman to be lenient with his client and take into account the fact that he had not wasted the court’s time. Williams suggested that a financial penalty be imposed or if the Magistrate were to pass a custodial sentence that it should be suspended. Both sentences will run concurrently.