VIDEO capture shows a man armed with a rifle during a heated argument outside a Prince Charles Drive nightclub. Later in the video a uniformed officer was seen asking the man to leave the area.
By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A DEFENCE Force marine seaman pleaded not guilty yesterday to threatening a young woman with a shotgun outside a nightclub, days after footage of the alleged incident went viral, and was granted $7,000 bail.
Prosecutors allege Austin Armbrister, 20, threatened Alvinique Strachan with a black semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun outside 316 Bar on Prince Charles Drive on November 9. Ms Strachan claims he threatened to kill her and her brother.
The footage prompted public calls for his arrest.
Armbrister was arraigned before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans on a charge of possession of a firearm with intent to put another in fear. If convicted, he could face two to 10 years in prison.
The prosecutor, Inspector Vernon Pyfrom, did not object to bail, which was set with one or two sureties. Armbrister must sign in at the East Street South Police Station every Wednesday by 9pm and must not interfere with Ms Strachan or any other witness. Breaching any of these conditions will lead to his bail being revoked.
Armbrister, who appeared calm and wore civilian clothes, was accompanied in court by members of his family.
He returns for trial on March 16, 2027.
Al-leecia Pickstock represented him.
Earlier yesterday, Defence Force Commodore Floyd Moxey told reporters the agency’s practice is only to suspend marines when they are charged with a crime.
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