Court upholds no case submission on 10 of 13 charges against ex-cop

Former police officer Zackrie Latham will have to answer to only three of the 13 charges on which he was being tried at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Zolia Ellis-Browne upheld no case submission on 10 of the counts.

Latham’s lawyer, Grant Connell, had one day earlier asked the court to find that the prosecution had failed to make out a case against his client on all 13 counts.

Latham, 26, of New Grounds, will only have to answer to charges that:

between Jan. 31 and April 1, 2021, at Georgetown, he entered the armoury of the Georgetown Police Station as a trespasser and stole one box containing 50 rounds of .40mm ammunition, valued at EC$250, the property of the Government of SVG;

between Jan. 31 and June 17, 2021, at Georgetown, being employed in the government service as a member of the Royal SVG Police Force and being charged with the performance of duties by virtue of his employment, corruptly received property for himself on account of an action done by you in discharge of the duties of his office; and

between Jan. 31 and April, 1, 2021, at Georgetown, entered the armoury of the Georgetown Police Station as a trespasser and stole three boxes containing 250 rounds of .40mm ammunition, the property of the Government of SVG.

Latham was one of four people charged in connection with firearms and ammunition allegedly stolen from the Georgetown Police Station last year.

In her submission, prosecutor Crown Counsel Maria Jackson-Richards argued that Latham’s alleged crimes were part of a joint enterprise with Avi King, 26 of Diamonds, and that Latham should be made to answer.

King, with whom Latham was jointly charged on some of the counts, pleaded guilty last year to most of the charges brought against him and the others were later withdrawn.

He is currently serving a prison sentence.

On some of the counts, Latham was jointly charged along with King and Meshach Dublin, 26, of Diamonds.

Dublin pleaded guilty to most of the charges against him and the others were withdrawn and is serving a prison sentence.

Myron Samuel, 28, of Layou, who purchased one of the firearms and 15 rounds of ammunition that were allegedly stolen, was jailed for 18 months but was released on compassionate grounds three months later. 

On Tuesday, after the court gave its decision on each count, the prosecutor asked for reasons for the decisions.

The magistrate, however, asked if the prosecution was interested in reason at that stage.

Connell said it is not normal procedure for a prosecutor to rise and ask for reasons for the court’s ruling on a no case submission.

“If they intend to appeal, they would write. There is nothing special about this case. It is a simple man,” Connell said.

The magistrate said that as regards her decision, “clearly, the submission of the defence found more grounding with the court. That’s all I will say at this time.”

The court held that Latham had no case to answer on the following charges:

between June 2 and 18, 2021, at Diamonds,  he had in his possession criminal property, to wit, EC$3,200 in cash, which he knew or suspected in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents the proceed of criminal conduct;

between June 1 and 28, 2021, at Georgetown, he had in his possession, one Glock pistol, serial number LNL144, without a licence issued under the Firearms Act;

between June 1 and 18, 2021, at Georgetown, he had in his possession one Glock pistol, serial number LNL151, without a licence issued under the Firearms Act;

between June 1 and June 18, 2021, at Georgetown, he had in his possession one Glock 22 pistol, serial number LNL155, without a licence issued under the Firearms Act;

between June 1 and 4, 2021, at Georgetown, he had in his possession, one M-4 rifle, serial number W877775, a prohibited weapon, without the authorisation of the minister;

on June 17, at Diamonds, he had in their possession 305 rounds of ammunition without a licence issued under the Firearms Act;

between June 2 and 17, 2021, at Sion Hill, not being a licenced firearm dealer, he sold one Glock 22 pistol, serial number LNL 155 to one “Pet”, of Sion Hill;

between June 2 and 17, 2021, at Sion Hill, not being a licensed firearm dealer, he sold one magazine with 15 rounds of .40mm ammunition to one “Pet”, of Sion Hill;

on June 17, 2021, at Kingstown, not being a licensed firearm dealer, he sold one Glock 22 pistol, serial number LNL 144 to Myron Samuel, of Layou; and,

on June 17, 2021, at Kingstown, not being a licensed firearm dealer, sold one magazine with 15 rounds of .40mm ammunition to Myron Samuel, of Layou.

The trial continues on May 30.