The Tribune

A MAN convicted of drug possession and sentenced under last year’s amended law had his four year mandatory minimum sentence reduced by the Court of Appeal.

Avery Larrimore, 31, and his attorney Roberto Reckley submitted to the court that the four-year sentence his client received on March 22 in Magistrate’s Court was unduly harsh for a first time offender.

Larrimore pleaded guilty to possessing 22 and a half pounds of marijuana with intent to supply.

He was sentenced under a newly amended law which stipulates that anyone convicted of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply must face four to seven years in prison.

Mr Reckley argued that the sentence was disproportionate considering that his client had pleaded guilty, that he was a first-time offender and that he was only 30 years old.

Justices Christopher Blackman, Stanley John and Abdulai Conteh, agreed and reduced the sentence to two years and six months since the date of conviction.

Prosecutor Ambrose Armbrister appeared for the Crown in yesterday’s appeal hearing.