Munster trio turns on cop
Published:Tuesday | July 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
The three civilians who were charged in connection with the guns and ammunition stolen from the police armoury pleaded guilty yesterday.
They indicated to the court that they intended to be Crown witnesses against the policeman with whom they were jointly charged.
Senior Puisne Judge Gloria Smith remanded them to return to the Gun Court on Friday when a date will be set for their sentencing.
Sergeant Russell Robinson pleaded not guilty to the charges and is to return to court on Friday when defence lawyer Bert Samuels will make a bail application for him. A date will also be set for his trial.
Garnett Pennington, businessman of Munster Road, Kingston 2, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and 660 rounds of ammunition. The gun was found in Pennington's bedroom, while the rounds of ammunition were found at his business place on Mountain View Avenue, Kingston 2.
Pennington, who is being represented by Tom and Christian Tavares-Finson, pleaded guilty last week in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court to a breach of the Corruption Prevention Act and was given a 12-month suspended sentence.
The other civilians, Charles Morris and David Blagrove, who worked at the police armoury, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a total of 18 firearms. They were charged with illegal possession of 9,540 rounds of ammunition, but that charge was withdrawn after they pleaded guilty to the firearm charges.
The Crown, represented by Dirk Harrison, deputy director of public prosecutions, is alleging that on February 18, firearms were found inside a motor vehicle which Robinson had driven to Munster Road. One firearm and rounds of ammunition were found inside the house at Munster Road. Robinson, Blagrove and Morris were charged with illegal possession of ammunition and 18 firearms.
The charges of storehouse breaking and larceny against the civilians were withdrawn.
Robinson is also charged with breaching the Corruption Prevention Act. He appeared in court last week and was remanded to return to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court today for a trial date to be set.