Former altar boy convicted

A man who was this week sentenced to prison on illegal possession of firearm and robbery with aggravation, was told by Justice Almarie Sinclair-Haynes to read his Bible daily and take steps to give his life to the Lord.

Haynes, who is said to be a devoted Christian and “who always encouraged convicts to give their lives to the Lord”, told Leon Schroeter, a former Catholic altar boy, that he needed to make a change for the better.

The 19-year-old father was jointly charged with Omar Shaw. They were recently found guilty of robbing a Kingston man of his Honda CRV at gunpoint on February 16 and stealing his $20,000 cellular telephone in the process. They also robbed a woman of her handbag containing $30,000 and her cellular telephone during the process.

Shaw, 25, will be imprisoned for 15 years, while Schroeter will serve 10 years.

Restaurant operator goes free

A restaurant operator from Hannah Town in Kingston was acquitted of gun-related charges in the Gun Court this week, as the complainant and only witness was killed by the police in an alleged shoot-out, almost eight months ago.

Tyion Hylton, 24, of Rose Lane in Hannah Town, was killed along Slipe Pen Road on January 17, in what the police said was a shoot-out between them and gunmen.

The acquitted Craig Reid, 28, also of Hannah Town, was charged with illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent last year.

Cop faces Gun Court Monday

CONSTABLE Horace Roberts, the officer alleged to be the mastermind behind a crime ring that targeted returning residents, is to face trial in the Gun Court on Monday along with two other suspects.

Along with Roberts, facing charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and robbery with aggravation charges are Richard Ewart, a former employee of the Ministry of Labour, who worked with the ministry up until the time of his arrest, and Robert Hurd, a carpenter.