By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A magistrate is set to determine the fate of a security officer who admitted having an unlicenced firearm that he claimed he kept with him for “protection”.
Police arrested Kenray Rigby after they found a black and yellow .45mm pistol with six rounds of ammunition in his car on September 20.
He admitted the offence when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.
The court was told that around 7.30pm on the night in question, officers on mobile patrol on Balfour Avenue observed a car driving in a suspicious manner. As a result, they brought the vehicle to a stop and informed its sole occupant that he would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms.
The prosecution said while officers did not find anything illegal on Rigby, when they searched his car that evening, they discovered the loaded pistol. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Grove Police Station. During an interview with police there he declined to answer any questions that were put to him.
During the hearing, Rigby’s attorney told the magistrate his client was a security officer who got the job after his brother with the same occupation helped him apply for a position. He said that although Rigby’s brother was also a security guard, he was shot and killed a year ago. He said this made the accused feel that he needed to get a gun to protect himself.
In response, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said she could not condone or endorse anyone being in possession of an unlicensed firearm. Nevertheless, she said she would adjourn his case to give herself an opportunity to consider an appropriate punishment.
Rigby returns to court later this week for sentencing. He was remanded into custody until then.
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