More than mangoes

Normally when you climb a mango tree your eyes behold mangoes, but the tree Evander Thomas climbed bore fruit of a different kind – a shotgun. {{more}}

The Chauncey villager will learn his fate today when he reappears at the Kingstown Magistrates’ Court for sentencing for possession of a firearm.

He appeared in court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to the charge, but sentencing was deferred until today by Senior Magistrate Donald Browne.

Information reaching the court states that on October 19, at about 3:30pm, members of the drug squad and the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) went to the defendant’s home to execute a search warrant, but he was not there.

Thomas’s father was, however, there, and when the house was searched, the gun was found. The father told officers that his son had brought home the gun.

The police went in search of the defendant who admitted the gun belonged to him. He was subsequently arrested and charged. Thomas told police in a statement that he found the firearm in a mango tree.

“Why in the name of goodness you did not turn in the firearm to the police,” asked Magistrate Browne.

Thomas, however, said that his father had plans to destroy the gun and “wanted to keep it from me.” Browne further stated that it appears that the Lowmans, Campden Park, Questelles and the Chauncey areas are becoming a hotbed for guns and is a literal war zone. “All of you have gun. They are only to do one thing and that is kill,” Browne added.