By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A FISHERMAN from Andros was sentenced to 18 months in prison yesterday after admitting to having an unlicenced gun, which he said he bought to protect himself at sea.
Carldeo Munroe, 26, and Lyndonia Demeritte, 35, both represented by Bjorn Ferguson, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a charge of possession of an unlicenced firearm and possession of ammunition.
On December 27, police acting on a warrant searched Munroe’s apartment in Conch Sound, Andros. There in Munroe’s bedroom officers uncovered a black Smith & Wesson .45 pistol in a black holster concealed under his mattress. Authorities further found eight live rounds of .45 ammunition in the same bedroom.
While in a subsequent police interview Munroe admitted to the offence, Demeritte maintained her innocence in the matter.
In court, Munroe pleaded guilty to the charges with Demeritte pleading not guilty to hers. Given Munroe’s plea of guilt the charges against the female defendant were withdrawn.
Prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom then revealed that Munroe had recently been fined on a threats of death charge.
During his plea of mitigation, Mr Ferguson stated that his young client is a fisherman and the father of two as well as the breadwinner for his mother and younger siblings. He further explained that Munroe had purchased the firearm to protect himself at sea after close encounters with poachers.
Mr Ferguson said that the accused is a shooting victim, who now has a metal rod in his leg after one such dangerous encounter.
After reiterating that the gun was found in a secure place in Munroe’s home and not in public the attorney asked that the court “temper justice with mercy”. Stating that his client is a productive citizen, Mr Ferguson implored the magistrate to impose a custodial sentence under 12 months on Munroe.
In view of this and considering Munroe’s early plea of guilt to spare the court’s time, Magistrate McKinney sentenced Munroe to 18 months in the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
The accused was informed of his right to appeal sentencing within seven days.
Before being taken into remand a tearful Munroe was allowed a moment with his family who were present in court.
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