By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FREEPORT – After nine hours of deliberations, a Supreme Court jury found former police officers Anthony Griffin and Racine Milfort guilty of stealing nearly 200 gallons of gasoline from the Police Force Garage in November 2011.
The verdict was handed down around 9.30pm on Thursday.
A jury of six women and three men found the men guilty by a vote of 6-3.
A number of police officers had gathered at the courthouse to support their former colleagues, waiting into the
late evening hours for the outcome.
Griffin and Milfort, who were employed at the Police Garage, were charged with stealing by reason of employment 199 gallons of gasoline valued at around $800 on November 12, 2011.
It was alleged that the men – who were both Corporals at the time – used a Police Force Mitsubishi flatbed truck to haul four 55-gallon drums of gasoline from the compound on Peel Street.
Both men took the stand on Tuesday.
They denied the accusations.
After Senior Justice Hartman Longley delivered his summation in the case, the jury retired around 12.30pm to deliberate.
They returned around 6pm to ask the judge whether the prosecution had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that 199 gallons of gas were stolen.
In his direction to the jury, Justice Longley explained that the prosecution had to prove that the defendants took gas from the police garage that had a value of at least $500 or more; that at the time they took the gas they did not have the consent of the RBPF; that they had no claim of rights to the gas; and that they had taken it by reason of their employment on the Police Force.
The jury retired again to deliberate and returned around 9.30pm with the verdict.
K Brian Hanna represented Griffin and R Dawson Malone represented Milfort. Erica Kemp of the Attorney-General’s Office appeared on behalf of the Crown.
Justice Longley has set sentencing for November 9.
Comments
mynameis 11 years, 8 months ago
I hope the money they got from reselling the gasoline is enough to keep their families going while they're locked up in prison...SMT! Not even worth it, but a thief always believes he has profited from his sticky fingers.
paul_vincent_zecchino 11 years, 8 months ago
"I asked you for water. You gave me gasoline." - Chester Arthur Burnett a/k/a 'Howlin' Wolf', c. 1952
Paul Vincent Zecchino Manasoviet Key, Florida 15 September, 2012
Shirley 11 years, 8 months ago
Idiots.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 8 months ago
this is when they got caught ,think how much these dough boys cost the treasury over the years ..there families better put money at the gate ,they ga need plenty sweet milk to stay that big up the road ,,,
spoitier 11 years, 8 months ago
Racine is a good man who happens to do something foolish, hope he get a second chance at restoring his life.
242 11 years, 8 months ago
its the bahamas he ll get 1000 chances nobody will remember
mavispinder 11 years, 8 months ago
Racine is a very good man and I feel really bad that this is happening to him. People who have murdered have been shown more mercy then they are showing him. Racine, they set you up buddy, but don't give up, you know God for yourself. Lean on him and stay strong. I will always be your friend to the end!!
Class of 84
concernedcitizen 11 years, 8 months ago
when u steal from the gov,,you steal from every man ,women and child in the country ,,good men ???????????
mavispinder 11 years, 8 months ago
Hopefully you did everything right in your life and you have never made bad calls, if this is so, congratualtions to you for being so perrrrrfect!!
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