Ramomasagana “Masa” Pemberton, who is accused of keeping a loaded handgun near his residence in Purcell Estate, appeared at the Magistrates’ Court Tuesday for the continuation of his trial.
Mr. Pemberton, the owner of entertainment website Krazy Hype, pleaded not guilty on July 5 to keeping a firearm without a licence and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Inspector George James testified Tuesday that he went to inspect an area in Purcell Estate on April 21.
Mr. James said he found a small silver case with a rough surface, which he took to the Road Town Police Station.
The case was opened at the station, and a loaded black handgun with an extended magazine was inside, the officer said.
Mr. James claimed that on April 22, he took the gun to the police laboratory, and watched as another detective swabbed the firearm for DNA evidence.
Cross-examination
The officer was then cross-examined by defence attorney Patrick Thompson, who asked Mr. James if he would agree that Purcell Estate is an area that has experienced homicides and shootings. The officer agreed.
The trial was then administratively adjourned, after Crown Counsel O’Neil Simpson explained to Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo that the prosecution needed time to clarify a few matters.
The trial, which began in November, was scheduled to resume on Jan. 12.
Allegations
Crown Counsel O’Neil Simpson previously alleged that police found a case containing a loaded black nine-milimetre Glock handgun with an extended magazine near Mr. Pemberton’s residence in Purcell Estate on April 21.
The prosecutor said officers later searched the defendant’s home, but found nothing illegal.
Mr. Pemberton later voluntarily agreed to be fingerprinted and interviewed by police, claimed Mr. Simpson.
His fingerprints matched those found on the gun, according to the Crown, and the defendant was later arrested and charged.
Mr. Pemberton remains on remand.