Guilty man begs magistrate for a chance

A fifty-year-old man earlier this week asked that the Court consider the current economic climate when determining his fine.{{more}}

“My Worship, I want you to consider the harsh economic crisis, I’m asking you to be considerate and give me a chance,” Kelson Guy said when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Sonya Young at the Serious Offences Court on Monday.

Guy, a resident of New Chapmans, was charged with the possession of 1,480 grams of cannabis with the intent to supply. He pleaded guilty to the offence.

Facts read in court state that on Saturday, October 17, 2009, Rapid Response Unit officers on patrol saw Guy coming from the Soufriere Mountains with a nylon sack. The sack was opened and the drugs were found inside. Guy told police that it was his “weed” adding “Ah wuk me wuk for it.”

Young, in sentencing, read out a list of Guy’s convictions from 1977 to 2001. Guy explained to her that the marijuana was given to him as payment for work that he did. The man told the magistrate that he had been employed in the construction field, but was unemployed for some time. He worked for a man who gave him the marijuana.

Offering mitigation, Guy told the magistrate: “I have a long history of institutional life…I think it is unfortunate that I appear before you for a second time.” Guy added that he has been trying to turn his life around.

“You spoke to me quite eloquently, but I’m going to fine you very hard,” Young said. She added that although his criminal record was “deplorable”, she would take into consideration his efforts to stay out of trouble.

Guy was fined $2,500 to be paid in five months or he would serve nine months in prison. Young warned him that if he came back to court he would go to prison. “At what point will you stop?’ Young asked him.

“Your Worship, I think this is the cut off point, I’d be honest with you,” he said.(OS)