Winter sentenced to 5 years for gun, gets advice

Omarie Winter has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Magistrate Ayanna Baptise-DaBreo sentenced the 19-year-old this morning (April 28) in relation to an illegal handgun and eight rounds of ammunition.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for the ammo and five years imprisonment for the firearm. Both sentences will run concurrently (at the same time).

Police recovered the weapon at the residence Winter was occupying in the Nibbs Estate area of Long Trench, Tortola.

After slapping the young offender with the half-a-decade sentence, Magistrate Baptiste-DaBreo urged Winter to be on his best behaviour so he can be eligible for parole.

Under the territory’s Parole Act, a convict can become subject to supervised conditional release before the completion of his or her sentence.

“You have been before this court on several occasions. I believe I talked your ear off… However, you seem to have somewhat of an anger issue,” the magistrate told Winter.

She further advised him to “take advantage of the programmes that are there [at Her Majesty’s Prison]”.

“Whatever anger management classes are there; whatever lessons are there… put yourself in a position so you can get early release,” added Magistrate Baptiste-DaBreo.

How the gun was found

Reports from police are that they recovered a 45 millimetre firearm and a loaded magazine while they were executing a search warrant at the Nibbs Estate residence that Winter was occupying.

He was one of five persons held during the operation on January 31 this year.

However, Winter was the only one hauled before the court in relation to the find.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of explosives and unlawful possession of a firearm during another court appearance on February 1.

At the time of the gun bust, Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews said he was pleased.

“Not only were we able to remove yet another illegal firearm from our streets, but charges were laid in the matter. I consider this a success not only for my officers, but for the people who count on us to keep our communities safe,” the commissioner had said.

Other cases

It is not the first time that Winter is being charged with gun possession.

In fact, he was recently released from custody after been locked up for several months in relation to a September 2015 incident. In that incident, police nabbed him and other young men during a gun-find in the area of Road Town known as Ghetto/Crabbe Lot.

Furthermore, Winter was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the alleged beating of a correctional officer at Her Majesty’s Prison in May last year.