The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Senator Darren Henfield expressed relief and gratitude yesterday after his son was acquitted of firearm charges but said his family is seeking legal advice on its next steps.

Mr Henfield told The Tribune the case highlights the need to re-examine the country’s justice system.

His comments came after a magistrate acquitted his son of firearm and ammunition possession on Friday — a decision that included sharp criticism of the prosecution’s handling of the case. Magistrate Lennox Coleby Sr found that prosecutors failed to prove Dreyon Henfield had a gun and accused them of deceit regarding the ammunition.

“In the result, my family was able to go home on Friday and finally get a nice rest,” Mr Henfield said. “But you know many Bahamian families aren’t able to do that. How many more Bahamian men are incarcerated under conditions that are not truthful?”

Last year, police charged interdicted officer Dreyon Henfield after he was accused of brandishing a loaded gun outside a bar in western New Providence.

Dreyon denied the charges and, during the trial, presented CCTV footage that contradicted the police’s account of events.

According to a Nassau Guardian report, the footage did not show either officer taking the gun from him. It showed an officer in khaki holding a gun but not retrieving it.

Yesterday, Mr Henfield said he was not surprised by the magistrate’s ruling, as they knew the prosecution’s case did not match the facts.

“Young Bahamian men are being prosecuted every day. We were fortunate in that it turned out this way for us but we must, we must take a closer look at what we’re doing in this country as it relates to justice,” he said.