23 years old Jovannie Baptiste an unemployed young man from the community of Rose Place and Ottley Hall has been sentenced to a jail term of 5 years at the Belle Isle Correctional Centre on two separate gun and ammunition charges at Stoney Ground in the vicinity of Massy Stores Supermarket on September 5th 2018.
The sentence was handed down by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court after she convicted Baptiste for being in possession of one Smith and Wesson semi-automatic firearm containing 10 rounds of ammunitions without the relevant licenses.
The Court heard that on the date in question Baptiste along with three other young men were seen by Law Enforcement Officers at 12:45 am while they were on routine mobile patrol.
Reports also indicate that Baptiste was seen dressed in a red T-shirt and a short pants and was seen pulling a gun from his waist.
Apparently upon recognizing the presence of the police Baptiste began to run and the Officers gave chase after him during which time Baptiste threw the firearm into a nearby yard.
Baptiste was eventually caught and taken back to the area where he threw the firearm which was retrieved by the Officers leading to Baptiste being arrested.
