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Riley gets 32 months imprisonment for shooting attempt

Riley

Brandon Riley has been sentenced to 32 months at Her Majesty’s Prison after threatening, assaulting and attempting to shoot another man.

The United States native living on Virgin Gorda was sentenced last week after previously pleading guilty to unlawful use of a firearm, possession of an offensive weapon, using threatening language, using insulting language, and three counts of common assault.

In handing down the sentence, Justice Ann Marie Smith said she considered that Riley was a first-time offender and a prime candidate for rehabilitation.

His early guilty plea, the fact that the firearm was an ‘imitation weapon’, and his previous good character were considered as mitigating factors that served in his favour.

On the hand, the court said the prevalence and seriousness of gun-related offences in the territory, the trauma that the complainant felt at the time, the premeditated nature of the offence, and the fact that it occurred in a crowded bar were considered as aggravating factors.

The court then ruled that Riley’s prison sentence should commence from the date that he was first placed on remand.

What the court heard happened

The court heard that the first set of reported incidents took place on July 6 last year in the Valley, Virgin Gorda.

It is reported that Riley saw the complainant at a bar and pulled the chair that he was sitting on from underneath him.

Several days later on July 28, Riley kneed the same man in the leg twice while they were in a barbershop.

The third incident reportedly occurred on August 6 at a local bar. Riley reportedly confronted the complainant and said: “You want to go to the police, but I’m going to shoot you tonight.”

Riley also called him a ‘punk’ and a ‘p****y’, the court was told.

He then reportedly pulled what is believed to be a ‘real gun’ and pointed the weapon at the complainant. He then cranked the gun twice and pulled the trigger twice, however, no bullets were fired.

The matter was later reported to police and Riley was arrested and charged on August 31.

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24 Comments

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  1. E Scott says:

    32 months and likely discount with good behaviour. TOTAL JOKE ! BVI appears not to be serious about crime.

    Like 29
    Dislike 2
  2. Hmmm says:

    He woman who’s a police didn’t know he had Illegal firearms? Most people only “sorry” because they were caught.

    Like 19
    Dislike 3
  3. Hmmm says:

    The judge should let him explain the reasons for his actions and if it’s a case of bullying (which appears to be the case to me) then strongly reprimand him for it and let others know it won’t be tolerated.
    There are many young people out there who are suffering from depression and other ills because of bullying, some to the point of taking their own life.
    The judge should use the case to send a strong message.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  4. :) says:

    Looter gets 26 months for a cheap tv and man threatens, assaults and attempted to shoot a man gets 32 months. We need serious law reform in the BVI.

    Like 51
    Dislike 3
  5. Damnnn says:

    Free my dawg

    Dislike 23
  6. wondering says:

    Is there a conspiracy in place to disgrace the BVI and turn it into a lawless society. Many of these judges are not from here. They do not have a vested interest

    Like 21
    Dislike 3
    • Anonymous says:

      Something is definitely wrong. Our law enforcement and our politicians do not come out and take a stance. The judiciary is out of control. What is going on.

      Like 15
      Dislike 1
      • Me again says:

        @ Anonymous I have been saying the same thing for years now . The Judiciary is out of control. It is either “they”don’t care or they do not understand ; which means they are not suitable to perform the duties with which they are charged . SOME thing is definitely not adding up

    • Aluminium Head says:

      When Justice Redhead was here handing down 15 year sentences a lot of folks was saying its harsh.

      Like 6
      Dislike 1
  7. The Truth!! says:

    It’s funny how everybody and their mother on here talking about something they know nothing about!! The case shows how the judicial system is a complete failure in the BVI. Where a person can make a false report when the accuser was the one harassing the young man, but because of friends and who you in. This is why the BVI will never move forward because you all are small minded hypocrites!! Sickening!! The law has failed this young man but God don’t sleep!!

    Like 2
    Dislike 9
    • ooh boi says:

      @ The Truth!! You should not come on here saying nothing , Let the woman come out and say who she was horning the “boy” with . Just that the “boy” saw a vehicle and assume it was that man ; BUT he was wrong .So he attempted to take a mans’ life for some thing he is innocent of ; should he not deal with his woman first ? Now ayaa brukkin down the church . Had it been me I wouldda arm myself with a “restraining order “against this “boy”

      Still think the “system” has failed to deliver justice on “attempted murder “

      Like 9
      Dislike 2
      • Dumb says:

        You seem to have ur story mix up about vehicle and wrong man.get ya facts straight.ya like mind people business and kno ntn.leh de church bruk down.u such an a**. Get ur story straight. The man wrong for fighting my boy.and then run gone police. Free ma dawg.

        Like 1
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  8. Hmmmm says:

    Total non sense this man gets 32 months for a fireman an sham stole a tv worth $200 an gets 2 yrs in prison this system is a joke .

    Like 18
    Dislike 1
  9. ooh boi says:

    @ The Truth!! You should not come on here saying nothing , Let the woman come out and say who she was horning the “boy” with . Just that the “boy” saw a vehicle and assume it was that man ; BUT he was wrong .So he attempted to take a mans’ life for some thing he is innocent of ; should he not deal with his woman first ? Now ayaa brukkin down the church . Had it been me I wouldda arm myself with a “restraining order “against this “boy”

    Still think the “system” has failed to deliver justice on “attempted murder “

  10. from Here says:

    if so be the case plz free the Rasta man who ayo give 10 yrs

  11. Ns vg man says:

    That’s a good look pelle when you get free leave that hating place call vg. You see what I do buss off on them we from the u.s. big dawg

  12. S.O.B says:

    Yh free the Ras if this the case .ayo dont kno wa ayo doing ayo guesting with people life …but is dice the procecuter and the judge in the court rolling Mon.. well sah

  13. Rant says:

    It’s funny how a lot of these comments ignore the signs and aggrevating factors in the offenders behaviour. So are we going to ignore the whole incident that led up to him being in front of the judge in the first place? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. We cannot control what the consequences of our actions are. Maybe if we stopped excusing anti-social behavior because we know a person, or their sister brother newphew is your cousin and call out people on their b*s* i.e. call a spade a spade then they wouldn’t be in such siutations.

    Like 1
    Dislike 4
  14. Wth says:

    This judge is a joke man!!!!! Whonshe wey she from what’s her history. She got to be from tola. One of them jokey born here.

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  15. Z6ne says:

    Yes real talk free the Ras ayo doing f**k

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