St Mary businessman to face trial for gun, ammo
A St Mary businessman who is charged with the illegal possession of a gun and ammunition, 27 year-old Michael Rose, will have to stand trial.
He was remanded in custody when he appeared before the Ocho Rios Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, despite pleas for bail from his attorney, Ernest Smith.
Rose, co-owner and operator of Rio Nuevo Car Care Centre in Tower Isle, will return to court next Thursday, when the matter will be up for trial.
He was arrested and charged last Thursday after a green Mercedes Benz, registered 1623 DR, which he was driving, was stopped and searched by a St Ann special force squad and a Glock 9 mm pistol with 14 live rounds allegedly discovered in the car.
During a search of Rose’s home, the police allegedly discovered 41 rounds of .380 cartridges, one 9 mm cartridge and a pound of ganja. Nineteen-year-old Abbylane Wedderburn and Sherelene Rose, 23, who were in the house at the time of the find, were arrested and charged with possession of ammunition, and possession of and dealing in ganja.
Yesterday, Rose’s attorney told RM Yvonne Brown that the car which his client was driving, and in which the weapon was allegedly found, did not belong to him but was in fact borrowed from the car care centre he operates. The vehicle, Smith said, had been left for repairs at the centre.
“He was in the wrong vehicle at the wrong time,” Smith said, adding that the owner of the vehicle could not be found.
“He has to be found,” RM Brown firmly responded.
Smith then said investigations have revealed that the owner of the vehicle was abroad.
“We do not know that,” the RM replied.
In seeking bail for Rose, Smith argued that he would like his client to attend church next weekend as it was holy week; but the RM was unmoved.
And Wedderburn, who also appeared in court and is to return to court on April 17, had her bail extended. The judge also ordered that both accused should be fingerprinted.
Meanwhile, investigating officer, Sergeant Dadrick Henry of the St Ann’s Bay police station, told the court that the seized gun was sent for ballistic testing, but the results were not yet ready.
