Four Santa Cruz men yesterday were freed of charges of illegal firearm and ammunition possession after evidence presented in court did not prove the articles belonged to them. In his ruling Magistrate Brian Dabideen upheld a "no-case" submission argued by defence attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips. Following that he dismissed the charges against accused Jason Bostic, Sel Charles, Jason Scotland and Sherwin Bostic.
Dabideen, sitting in the Port-of-Spain Fourth (B) Court, said although the prosecution led evidence that the firearm and ammunition were found hidden under some pieces of wood on the property, the state had not established that the items belonged to the accused. Dabideen said according to the evidence, the property on Blackford Street, Santa Cruz, was fenced but also had two open entrances. Prosecutor acting Sgt Anderson Gonzales had alleged that a homemade shotgun and 34 rounds of ammunition were found on the property and belonged to the accused.
The offences were alleged to have occurred on February 26, 2007. The defendants denied knowledge of any firearm and ammunition on the compound. A fifth accused Brent Brewster was murdered while awaiting trial. The men would return to court on February 18 for trial on the sole charge of possession of marijuana. WPC Ynolde des Vignes charged the accused.