Policeman convicted for Globe Yard shooting, illegal ammo possession

Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 September 2014, 20:44 by GxMedia

A Constable was Tuesday convicted for shooting at a man in Globe Yard, Waterloo Street, Georgetown with the aim of injuring him as well as illegal possession of ammunition.

Twenty-eight year old Ocquana Dawson, who was attached to Tactical Services Unit (TSU), was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment for discharging the firearm at Phillip “Skinny” Small on February 18, 2013.

Evidence showed that Small was shot to his right thigh.

Dawson was also jailed for 36 months and GUY$50,000 fine for illegal possession of ammunition.A charge of damage to one bullet proof vest, property of the Guyana Police Force, was thrown out because the Court could not ascertain the condition of the item prior to the alleged damage.

The sentences would run consecutively.

The prosecution’s case was that Dawson had fired three of 15 rounds that had been issued to him. After the incident, he returned 14 bullets but a probe found that three of them had not been issued by the Guyana Police Force.

City Magistrate, Judy Latchman said that the evidence adduced offered reasonable doubt that the policeman had opened fire at Small. She stated that there was also reasonable doubt that the policeman had in his possession excess ammunition and that would amount to illegal possession.

Defence Lawyer, Linden Amsterdam urged the court to consider, in handing down sentence, that Dawson opened fire during the execution of duties and his intention was not to engage in cold –blooded action.

n mitigation his attorney-at-law Mr. Amsterdam told the Court that his client is a serving member of the Police Force and will accept whatever judgment made by the Court.

He added that as it relates to the discharging firearm his client was in the situation where he was required to execute his duties. He asked the Court to consider that his client acted in the heat of the moment rather that in a cold blooded or contemplating moment.

Amsterdam urged the court to also consider the facts that Dawson is a serving policeman and that he was present at all sessions of his trial.