22 Year Old Gunman Sentenced To 4 Years

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 11, 2009

Shane Edwards, 22, charged with keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license was found guilty of both charges at the conclusion of his trial in the #1 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, November 9. Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie sentenced him to 2 years for each count with the stipulation that the sentences are to run consecutively. Before he was sentenced to 4 years, Edwards was serving a sentence of 6 months for non-payment of fines for a conviction of handling stolen goods.

The incident occurred on March 11, 2009. The Police were on mobile patrol on Cleghorn Street when they saw Edwards riding a bicycle. When Edwards saw the Police vehicle he threw an object on the ground. When the Police retrieved the object they discovered that it was a .357 Magnum pistol with 4 rounds of .38 calibre ammunition in it. The firearm and ammunition were shown to Edwards, who was detained by Police, and they were labeled as exhibits. Edwards testified and denied that he committed the offence.

Before he was sentenced Edwards asked for leniency. He said he has a 3 month old child and although he went to prison at the age of 16 and spent 3 years he had never committed offences for firearm and ammunition before.

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