Handgun lands man in court
(CNS): Rohan Marshall (29) of West Bay, has been charged with two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm — one relating to a handgun and one relating to ammunition– possession of ganja and failing to provide a urine specimen, following a stop and search last week. (The arrested man is not the Rohan Marshall who works with the Department of Employment Relations.) Marshall who, appeared in court today (Tuesday, 7 April ) was arrested after the vehicle he was driving was stopped and searched by police on Tuesday, 31 March.
The discovery of the weapon was reportedly made at 4:50 pm in the afternoon when as USG officers (a team specifically trained in the use of firearms) stopped and searched a vehicle whilst on patrol along West Bay Road. Police say the man, who was the only person in the car, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Superintendent Kurt Walton, who has responsibility for the USG, said at the time that the Police are committed to preventing criminal acts that disrupt the lives of law abiding members of our community. “Addressing the use of illegal firearms is a key priority and anyone found to be in possession of an illegal weapon will be prosecuted. A firearm conviction before the Grand Court in the Cayman Islands attracts a very lengthy period of imprisonment and as such we appeal to those persons who have thoughts of possessing such illegal weapons to quit,” he warned.
Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligiblefor a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.
Category: Headline News
A Gun Amnesty is a great idea!
This was introduced in Australia with great results!
Guns were purchased by the Australian government with no questions asked. The level or gun related crime in Australia is now incredibly low.
There have been firearms amnesty periods here in Cayman before — see http://www.caymannetnews.com/2005/06/861/planned.shtml which was organised by Rotary Club of Grand Cayman in 2005.
What I think we need to do more of too is for people to report anonymously or otherwise if we become aware of an illegal firearm, whether in someone’s possession or if someone knows who’s supplying, where they’re coming from etc. Without the sources identified, how they’re coming into Cayman, how they’re distributed in Cayman, the problem will always be here…
And, this is not Rohan Marshall of Dept of Employment Relations, who is in his early thirties – a schoolmate of mine. I’m sure he got lots of calls, emails, and facebook messages yesterday though!!
For such a small and supposedly god fearing community, there is a massively disproportionate amount of violent crime and gangsters carrying guns. On an island where it seems that everyone knows everyone, then why the hell are these people still getting away with crime?
There is absolutely no excuse for carrying a firearm (unless authorised) and anyone doing so is carrying it with the intent of either shooting and murdering somebody or at least threatening to do so. For every person caught and taken off the streets, that is going to be at least one less persongetting shot. The punishment should be at least 10 years hard labour, in line with the crimes they were obviously planning to commit (i.e. murder or at the least attempted murder/armed robbery).
Unless hard criminals are caught and given very tough sentences, they are obviously never going to worry about having to face the consequences.
Mind you, anyone sent to prison knows within a couple of weeks they’ll be out on one of the ludicrous ‘day release’ schemes or whatever.
There is always an excuse or some family member who knows someone with a reason why this is unfair to lock up a young man for a firearm.
Having rolling check points to search for guns is the way to go. A different location with a different time.
I hope they throw the book at him! It’s about time they started making examples out of people who are caught with unlicensed fire arms!
Is this the Rohan Marshall who is or was a civil servant? If not, it should be clarified but it isn’t a common name so maybe it is him.
We also should have a firearms "Amnesty" where a week or so is given over to allow those with unlicenced firearms can hand them in to police – no questions asked and no prosecution for possession during the week-long period (unless the gun is connected to a crime).
The Amnesty is a great idea! Even if it get ride of one gun it is worth it. Turn your guns in! And YOU with the great idea, we should make you a Chia Pet 🙂
Fan
This is not Rohan Marshall who works in employment relations.I was in court today and he was identified as a Jamaican national married to a caymanian. The gun found was a flare gun adapted to fire .38 ammo.