AK47 Case in Court, Blue Hills man in Pre-Trial Hearing

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

DELEX CHARLES

#TurksandCaicos, November 14, 2023 – UNLICENSED driver DELEX CHARLES of Blue Hills, Providenciales appeared before the Hon Mr. Justice Chris Selochan at a pre-trial review/readiness hearing on Wednesday November 8th, 2023 for his alleged connection to the discovery of a high-powered rifle.

The accused was present in the Grand Turk Supreme Court and his human rights defense attorney, Ms. Sheena Mair appeared by video link from Providenciales.

At the readiness hearing, the judge asked Ms. Mair about completeness of disclosure and whether she had been in receipt of all of the information in the case.  She replied that she had been given just about all she required in the matter, however, still outstanding was disclosure on one of the two search warrants.  She said “there’s two warrants mentioned” but that she had information in hand on only one of them.

The Crown indicated their willingness to disclose and told the Court they will make checks and forward the same to Ms. Mair.

The case steam from the June 2022 Royal TCI Police report and publication of photographs of a high powered weapon and ammunition they allegedly found during a traffic accident investigation.  The public report was entitled: “a motor vehicle collision leads to firearm recovery.”

The Police report informed that on Saturday, June 18^th, 2022, at about 12:37 a.m., the Police Control room received a report of a motor vehicle collision on Millennium Highway, Blue Hills, Providenciales.  Officers on patrol were dispatched to the scene.  The officers saw a two-car motor vehicle accident.

Initial inquiries revealed that one of the drivers involved in the accident fled the scene in a separate vehicle.

The Police observed that the other driver who was met on scene, limped as a result of the collision, however, he refused medical assistance, despite complaining of pain.

Further Police inquiries revealed that the driver was not the holder of a valid Turks and Caicos Islands driver’s license.  As a result, he was warned of intended prosecution for Unlicensed Driving and Use of Motor Vehicle without insurance.

At about 12:58 a.m., RTCIPF officers attending the accident scene received certain information from the 911 Control Room which resulted in more police being dispatched to the scene.  During a search, officers recovered a long-arm firearm with a magazine loaded with ammunition.

The driver was then cautioned and arrested for another set of offences, carrying an unregistered firearm and ammunition.

Magnetic Media can reveal from our count of the AK47 bullets shown by police, it was near 30 rounds of deadly high powered bullets.

The matter was adjourned for further pretrial hearing date on Wednesday November 22nd, 2023 and the defendant in on remand until then.

A trial date in this matter is soon to be announced.