Tannis gets five years for wounding charge

DAYS AFTER A spate of shootings that took place around the country, Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman is sending a strong message to persons that are hauled before the court on firearm offences.{{more}}

“A very strong message needs to be sent out (following) the spate of shootings that has been taking place here,” said Churaman.

For the next five years, Everton Tannis will have ample time on his hands to let off steam at her Majesty’s Prison after he was slapped with a five-year prison sentence for wounding with a gun.

The 28-year-old labourer was sentenced to five years imprisonment after pleading guilty to wounding Marko Browne, a 15-year-old student of the Bequia Community High School on April 17, 2006 at Union Vale, Bequia.

The court heard that at about 8 am Marko and Tannis were setting their dogs to fight when Marko made a comment which did not sit well with Tannis. It was said that the defendant had a plastic bag with an object in it and threatened to shoot Browne. He then opened the bag and took out a gun and said, “Ah bet ah shoot you.” Marco then ran and Tannis fired a shot hitting him in his lower left side around the kidney area.

The bullet exited through his back. Browne received emergency treatment in Bequia then left for Kingstown on the 9:30am ferry for the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

Sharing his side of the story, Tannis said there had been a dogfight, but none of the dogs belonged to him.

He said Browne came to where the fight was taking place and said something to him. “I mek ah joke and say, yo war me give you ah gun butt?” Tannis further added that one bullet was lodged in the chamber of the gun and that he did not know exactly where. He said when Marco turned his back he squeezed the trigger and the bullet caught Browne in his back.

He admitted carrying Browne to the Bequia Hospital on his back and then returned to hide the gun in an outdoor toilet.

The gun has never been recovered.