Jealous lover faces prison for shooting at competitor

Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson managed to secure bail for Jermaine Phillips when he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly on Monday, for allegedly discharging a loaded firearm with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm in the direction of Virtual Complainant (VC) Troy Grant.

A Police Constable swore to the truth of the information which allegedly occurred at Hardina and Norton Streets, Georgetown on June 11, 2017.

The defence lawyer argued that based on his instructions, his client did not know the VC and had no knowledge of the charge which he deemed to be “trumped up” by a vindictive party. Several minutes after bail of $400,000 was granted for the above charge, a shackled Phillips was escorted back to the prisoner’s dock by Police ranks where two other charges were read to him. Magistrate Daly put over the allegation to the defendant which detailed that on July 11, 2017 at Laing Avenue, Georgetown, he was in possession of seventeen .40 rounds of live ammunition and one .40 Glock pistol, while not being the holder of a firearm licence.

According to the defendant’s lawyer, Phillips was initially arrested by the Police, along with two other persons in relation to the said matter on July 11. Thompson speculated that “something is amiss” as he questioned the decision of the Police to apprehend three persons if they were sure of his client’s guilt. The gun, according to the lawyer, was found in a bag on the premises in the presence of several persons. “Police did not find the gun on anybody,” he posited.

However, the prosecution sought to dispute the defence’s case by maintaining that when Police swooped down on the said residence, the defendant was spotted with the bag around his neck and apprehended as he attempted to escape. The Prosecutor also sought to establish that the two parties are known to each other and the alleged shooting had taken place in June.

It is reported that a jealous Phillips fired shots in the direction of Grant, allegedly because he felt threatened that the VC might poach his lover. The court further heard from the prosecution that there was no evidence that anybody else was charged in relation to the last two charges, in response to Thompson’s claim that his client was one of three persons arrested. Bail was denied in relation to the latter charges, and Phillips was ordered to return to court on August 17, 2017.