The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 25-year-old man, appealing a Supreme Court conviction and sentence for attempted armed robbery, will have to wait nearly three months to have his application heard.

Jeremy Kemp appeared before the Court of Appeal yesterday with his lawyer, Murrio Ducille, to appeal a jury’s conviction and the 17 years, eight-month sentence for the December 13, 2010 attempted robbery of the Oakes Field branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

However, Mr Ducille told the court he was not prepared to proceed with the matter as he had only just received the trial transcripts.

As a result, the court deferred the matter to February 28, 2013 for substantive hearing.

During the trial, it was claimed that on the date in question, Kemp attempted to rob the restaurant while armed with a handgun. Kemp denied the charge against him and maintained his innocence.

The trial heard from a cashier that the armed gunman, wearing blue jeans and a multi-coloured sweater, leaped back over the counter and left the restaurant after he was unsuccessful in opening the two cash registers of the Oakes Field Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

Also, Police Constable 3039 Jamal Johnson told the court that he and his colleague were on mobile patrol on Nassau Street before being alerted to the situation at KFC.

A foot chase began and Constable Johnson said he saw the suspect fall down before getting up and throwing a gun in the bushes.

Kemp, on July 19, was convicted, 8-1, by a nine-member jury. On September 17, Kemp was sentenced and initially given 19 years for the crime.

However, Senior Justice Jon Isaacs took into consideration that Kemp had spent 20 months on remand in the lead up to the trial and subtracted the time from his actual sentence.

The judge said the sentence, 17 years and eight months, would start from the date of conviction.

Ambrose Armbrister prosecuted the case while Mr Ducille defended Kemp.

The substantive hearing before the Appeal Court is set for February 28 next year.

Justices Christopher Blackman, Stanley John and Abdulai Conteh are presiding over the matter.