Laden to plead ‘not guilty’ to gun charges - Deejay scheduled for court this morning

Entertainer O'Keele Aarons, more popularly known as Laden, is expected to plead not guilty to gun charges in the Black River Resident Magistrate's Court in St Elizabeth today.

His list of charges include illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act, and failing to stop on the request of the police.

"Those firearm charges are all allegations and my client is definitely not guilty," said an upbeat sounding Charles Benbow, the attorney representing Laden.

He further stated that the only charge that Laden would plead guilty to is breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act, for which he faces a maximum fine of $1 million.

In a very good mood

Laden has been in police custody in St Elizabeth for close to one week.

"I will be making a bail application for him. He is a public figure so that should work in his favour," Benbow said. He last saw the deejay on Sunday, and reported that Laden was "in a very good mood".

The official police report stated that on the night of October 28, a black Mercedes Benz in which Laden was travelling with two other occupants was signalled to stop by the police in Cheapside, St Elizabeth. Laden, said to be the driver, reportedly disobeyed the order and sped off. The police gave chase.

During the chase, an object was observed being thrown from the vehicle's sunroof. The police caught up with the vehicle, arrested the occupants and took them back to the site where the object was witnessed being thrown. The area was searched, and lawmen reportedly recovered a Hi-point 9mm pistol with a magazine containing one 9mm round of ammunition.

The occupants, which included a 16-year-old, were taken into custody, where charges were subsequently laid.