21 year-old Ernest Billary, a resident of Hibiscus Street is spending his first night of a 5 year sentence after he was convicted today in the Magistrate's Court.
Viewers may remember that in July of 2012, Senor Coconuts was robbed by 2 armed men. The cashier reported that 2 men walked in and pretended to be customers. While they were being served, one of the men pulled a firearm, and put it to the head of one of the occupants.
He robbed his victim of a cellular phone, and he tried to leave but a concerned citizen got involved. This citizen pulled his own firearm and shot one of the assailants. He then helped responding police officers to detain the man, identified as Ernest Billary.
Well, he was charged with robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of unlicensed ammunition two counts of aggravated assault, and wounding.
He stood trial before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, where the investigating officers testified to catching him on the scene with the firearm, which was loaded with 11 live rounds of ammunition. One of the officers additionally testified how Billary hit him in the head when he was trying to subdue him.
In his defence, Billary denied that he had any gun with him, and that he ever hit the officer. He placed himself on the scene, and told the court, quote, "Why would I be hanging around in the area when I have committed a crime." End Quote.
Chief Magistrate Smith did not accept his version of the event, and she found him guilty of the firearm offences, and of the wounding offence.
She sentenced him to 5 years for the firearm, 5 years for the ammunition, and 1 year for the wound. That's 11 years total, but he will only serve 5 because all the sentences will run concurrently.
He still has to stand trial for robbery, and the 2 counts of aggravated assault.
