Ochi robbers return to court
Published:Thursday | February 26, 2009 | 9:12 AM
Ochi robbers return to court
The five men charged in connection with the death of a security guard during a robbery in Ocho Rios, St. Ann last June are to return to court today.
The case was scheduled to be heard on Monday but was put off as one of the accused men did not have a lawyer.
Those charged are security guard Jason Mills, 30, of Ocho Rios, Rowe Gentles, 40, a construction worker of St. Ann’s Bay and Daniel Whorms, 30, a mason from Bamboo in the parish.
The police have also charged Michael Patterson, 36, a taxi operator also of Bamboo and Paul Gayle, 34, of Cumberland, St. Catherine.
The men are charged with murder, robbery with aggravation and conspiracy to commit murder.
Gayle and Gentles are also facing charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
The police had reported that shortly after 10 a.m. June 2 a team of security guards went to the Island Village Shopping Centre to make deliveries, leaving 52 year old Gilbert Davis in the vehicle.
The police said Davis was approached by a group of gunmen who robbed him of the vehicle and then shot him dead.
Lobster penalties
Persons and businesses found stockpiling lobster for the annual closed season, from April to June are to face heavy penalties, when the new Fisheries Act takes effect.
The Act is to be passed into law during the current fiscal year.
Ian Jones, the Acting Director of the Marine Branch of the Fisheries Division in the Agriculture Ministry, said during the grace period all lobster stocks must be used up.
He told the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) that once the closed season starts, lobsters found will be confiscated or heavy fines imposed.
The closed season for lobster lasts from April 1 to June 30 each year.
Under the old Act, fishers, restaurateurs and hoteliers were allowed to stockpile lobsters, resulting in over-fishing.
According to Mr. Jones, the practice of over-fishing significantly reduced the benefits of a closed season and proved to be more harmful to the lobster population.