By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
FOUR people denied knowingly aiding a wanted suspect in avoiding law enforcement when they were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Amal Pratt, 25, of Winton Estates, had initially pleaded guilty to the charge of harbouring a criminal when he stood before Magistrate Andrew Forbes. However, he recanted and explained that he did not know Jamal “Eggie” Gibson was a wanted fugitive. He will join his co-defendants Patrick Pratt, 22, of Winton Estates, Kristianne Lightbourne, 22, of St Vincent Close and 19-year-old China Smith, of Sea Breeze Lane, to stand trial on April 13.
The four were further charged with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, as they were claimed to have been in possession of a little more than 6ozs of marijuana at the time of their arrest on Monday.
All accused, except Amal Pratt, pleaded not guilty to the charge and will also stand trial on April 13. The 25-year-old claimed that his co-accused had nothing to do with the drugs that were for his own personal use.
When asked by Magistrate Forbes if he intended to proceed with prosecution against the remaining accused on the drug charge, prosecutor ASP Ercell Dorsett said he would not withdraw the charges against them.
On Monday, officers went to Broadfield Street in Winton Meadows armed with a search warrant. Officers saw a man standing by the balcony of a house that they approached. The man, upon seeing them, ran inside the house. The police identified themselves and used force to gain entry where they heard rumbling and later found the 25-year-old in a bedroom where they presented him with a search warrant.
Police allegedly found several packages of suspected marijuana after a search. Officers also found $210 believed to be proceeds from sale of the illegal drugs.
They took Pratt into custody when he acknowledged being present at the house, but denied any knowledge of the drugs.
ASP Dorsett noted that Pratt has a previous conviction for possession of dangerous drugs from July 2013 and a conditional discharge for causing damage from March 2013.
Pratt, as a condition for being discharged of the latter crime, had to avoid any further run-in with the law for a two-year period.
Magistrate Forbes asked the 25 year old if he had a pending drug case before his court appearance for March 2015. Pratt acknowledged that he did.
“I’m not prejudging you in any way, but it seems that after your bout in 2013, you didn’t see fit to change your course of direction. And here you are charged again with another charge of possession of dangerous drugs less than a year later,” said the magistrate.
“The six ounces was for personal use,” the accused maintained.
The court accepted his guilty plea. It sentenced him to 15 months in prison for the drugs and confiscated the $210 for the Crown.
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