Dublin changes his pleas in firearms and ammunition charges

 Twenty-six-year-old Diamonds resident Meshach Dublin, has retracted all of his previous guilty pleas related to possession and sale of various guns and ammunition from the police armoury at Georgetown. 

Dublin changed his legal representation, and as at Monday, July 19, at the Serious Offences Court, counsel Jomo Thomas entered an appearance for the defendant.

Previously,Thomas’ client would have still been awaiting sentencing on numerous charges laid against him and for which he was being remanded into custody.

However, Thomas told Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne, that following conversations with Dublin, and based on instructions received, he would like for the charges to be reread to his client.

This was done, and the young man entered ‘not guilty’ pleas to the offences.

The prosecution did not have any objection to bail for Dublin, but asked for a number of conditions to be attached.

Following this, the magistrate allowed Dublin to secure bail in the sum of $60,000 with one surety. He has to surrender to the court, travel documents such as ID cards, driver’s license, passport, and there will be stop notices against him placed at all ports of entry and exit. If he should desire to travel for any reason, he must seek permission from the court. He will report to the Colonaire Police Station every Monday and Thursday while the matter is ongoing.

The case is adjourned to July 29, and transferred to the Colonaire Magistrate’s Court. The reason for this transfer is that the Chief Magistrate has had to sentence 26-year-old Diamond resident Avi King on matters arising from the same investigation.

Previously, on July 8, Zackrie Latham (formerly PC 1055) was granted bail of $80,000 with one surety. Latham, who is represented by counsel Grant Connell, has maintained ‘not guilty’ pleas to the charges against him, which are greater in number than the ones against Dublin.

Latham secured bail on the same day that it was opened to him. He also had to surrender travel documents to the state, and stop notices were ordered to be placed at all ports of entry and exit. The 25-year-old resident of New Grounds will report to the police station in his district twice weekly.

Latham is charged that he, between January 31 and April 1, 2021, at Georgetown, entered the Armoury of the Georgetown Police Station as a trespasser and stole one box containing 50 rounds of .40mm ammunition valued at EC$250, the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Between the same dates, he is also charged that he entered the Armoury and stole three boxes of .40mm ammunition valued at EC$750, the property of the Government of SVG.

He is charged that between 31 January and 17 June, at Georgetown, he being employed in the Government Service as a member of the RSVGPF, and being charged with the performance of duties by virtue of his employment, corruptly received property for himself on account of an action done by him in discharge of the duties of his office.

Between June 1 and 4, at Georgetown, he and King were alleged to have in their possession M-4 Rifle, serial number W877775, a prohibited weapon, without the authorisation of the Minister.

The police had charged King and Latham with between June 1 and 18 at Georgetown, having in their possession three Glock 22 Pistols serial numbers LNL 155, LNL 151, and LNL 144, without a license issued under the Firearms Act.

Dublin, King and Latham were together accused of between June 2 and 18, at Diamond, having in their possession criminal property to wit EC$3,200 in cash.

The trio were also arraigned on a charge that they had 305 rounds of .40mm ammunition on June 17 in Diamond.

Further, Dublin, King and Latham, not being licensed firearm dealers, are accused of selling one Glock 22 pistol, serial number LNL 155, and one magazine with 15 rounds of .40mm ammunition to one ‘Pet’ of Sion Hill between June 2 and 17, at Sion Hill.

The three are also alleged to have had on June 17, at Kingstown, not being licensed firearm dealers, sold one Glock 22, serial number LNL 144, and one magazine with 15 rounds of .40mm ammunition to Myron Samuel of Layou.

On a different date than King and Latham, namely June 17, and in a different place, namely Diamond, Dublin is charged by himself that he did have in his possession an M-4 Rifle, serial number W877775, a prohibited weapon, without the authorisation of the Minister and between June 2 and 17 at Sion Hill, he had a Glock 22, serial number LNL 155 in his possession without a license.

Finally, Dublin had been charged that on June 17, at Kingstown, he had one Glock 22 pistol serial number LNL 144 without a license.