Vendor held with ammunition at airport

A 54-year-old vendor is facing the court after being charged with unauthorised possession of ammunition.

The accused was reportedly caught with the contraband while trying to leave the island on November 21. The court heard that the woman, who is a mother of five, was stopped and searched at the Norman Manley International Airport, where the ammunition was discovered among her belongings. However, the details of the case were kept brief as the prosecution opted to share minimal information.

Attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend, who is representing the accused, argued that the ammunition did not belong to his client, but to her son, who is a licensed firearm holder. He stated that the suitcase in which the ammunition was found was borrowed from her son before she travelled to Jamaica.

"There was absolutely no knowledge as the container belonged to her son," Townsend explained. "She travelled to Jamaica with it as she borrowed it, and she was travelling back." Townsend also pointed out that she is a law-abiding citizen.

"She has never had any dealings with the law. We believe that she is an excellent candidate when we properly examine the circumstances," he said. The court was told that the woman's three sons reside overseas, which explains her frequent travels back and forth.

The accused was granted bail in the sum of $200,000. As part of her bail conditions, a stop order has been imposed to prevent her from leaving the country, and she is required to report to the nearest police station once a week. Her case is set to return to court in January 2025.

- T.P.