Defence claims 'no-case' in Munster Rd trial
Published:Thursday | June 30, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Defence lawyer Valerie Neita-Robertson submitted yesterday that the policeman who is the alleged mastermind behind the theft of guns and ammunition from the police armoury should be freed because of numerous discrepancies in the Crown's case.
Neita-Robertson said the Crown did not prove that Sergeant Russell Robinson was in custody, control and knowledge of the guns and ammunition for which he is charged.
She called for Supreme Court judge Horace Marsh to uphold the no-case submission.
When the trial resumes today in the Gun Court, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Dirk Harrison will reply to the no-case submission.
The Crown is alleging at the trial, which began last year, that Robinson was held in February 2010 on Munster Road in Kingston 2, with 18 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition belonging to the police armoury.
He is facing charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
Robinson was employed to the armoury at the time of the alleged offence.
He and three other men were arrested and charged in relation to the incident.
The men pleaded guilty to several charges and were given stiff prison sentences.