The OECS Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld an EC$1,000 fine suspended for two years that had been imposed on businessman Renneth “Bubbles” Alexis.
Appeals courts Judges Davidson Baptiste, Mario Michel and Chief Justice Sir Hugh Rawlins called Alexis “lucky” to have been only given an EC$1,000 fine suspended for two years for having an unlicensed firearm and upheld and affirmed the sentence which by law carries a fine of EC$6,000.
However Alexis did enjoy some success at the appeals court – the intimidation aspect of his conviction was not upheld, with the police ordered to return his firearm and ammunition.
A magistrate had imposed the fine after Alexis was found guilty in 2010 for using his unlicensed firearm to “intimidate” persons who had come to view the much talked about “Blaircourt property.”
Alexis had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm but “not guilty” to intimidation, resulting in a full scale trial.
In keeping with a request from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the appeals court ordered that the firearm and ammunitions be returned to him since the forfeiture was not properly executed by the state.
“You have to be a little more responsible, you ought to have ensured that your firearm was in order, you have gotten away and you are lucky it’s like you were in the Wild, Wild West,” the judges told Alexis.
While hearing the matter, the DPP’s office had conceded that the magistrate had not complied with the law in confiscating the firearm and ammunition and had also failed to produced the notes of evidence on time, despite repeated efforts and attempts.
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Someone is guarding the property of a friend. An unlicensed gun is brandished by the guard to prevent curious onlookers from viewing the property and to vacate the area. The guard feels threatened, even if the onlookers are as peaceful as doves. In his guiltiness to keep things a secret, he could have seriously hurt anyone of the onlookers. That is not intimidation?
What about the Officer who obeyed orders to grab the unlicensed gun back from the court, where it was placed as evidence in the case? Wasn’t that total disregard for Law and order? Moreso, check who gave the order (it couldn’t be me or you) and who carried out the order. Dominica is sliding down the precipice. In that massive slide are all kinds of debris.
Why didn’t the culprit, a born again Christian, run for his bible and say a special prayer for those curious onlookers instead of running for his unlkicensed gun. He was so frantic and preoccupied with the ‘Villas thing’, that he forgot the gun was not licensed.
@ Hmmmm
He did not even consider praying to God to say, “God, grant me patience” and keep the gun out of it and where it was, if it was under his bed. So much for being a Christian. God will judge him for his lack of faith, love and hypocrisy.
behanzin overruled again ? wrongful conviction ? i feel sorry ! sad sad sad ! let us pray!
you didn’t read properly. the court said alexis is lucky he only got to pay 6,000.00 .so you see while the other laywers who are against behanzin thought it was too steep the judges were of the view that it should have been more.and it said the judges upheld the conviction.
I do not not understand the ruling on why an unlicensed firearm has to be returned to this Alexis guy. Is it not illegal to be in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition? Also doesn’t law enforce officers have the right to seize and confiscate and even prosecute that individual when caught? So if it is illegal as stated, why does he have to get it back, and why is he not prosecuted for being in possession of it.
In all communities, we hear that the goal is to have a better control of guns on the street. Many governments all over the world invest heavily in programs that will help eradicate the number of illegal guns on the streets, Yet this is the very first time that I have ever heard that unlicensed firearm and ammunition be ordered by judges to be returned to questionable individuals.
I need someone with more insight to explain this procedure to me…I just do not get it.
The man has since paid his license so it’s no l longer an unlicensed firearm.
@ Anonymous
He did not at that time which is why the gun should have been confiscated for good. I do not know what type of Law would return it to him since he had it illegally – an unlicensed gun. It is a crime against the State to have a gun without a license. In other countries it would have been confiscated. He would be arrested, charged and even imprisoned. Do they not take this seriously in Dominica?
Now, in keeping with the laws of Dominica and established procedures I await the revocation of the firearm license by the Commissioner of Police. This time he has all the time in the world to do the paperwork right!
In the first place, the police should not have returned the firearm because it was already an item of evidence. When the magistrate ordered the firearm taken from Bubbles, it was left to the court (not the magistrate per say) to file the proper paperwork. The whole issue about not being able to produce the evidence notes on time is BS. The court clerk is who is responsible for securing notes of proceedings so I am sure if they wanted the notes the know how and where to get it. Again, they are trying to blame the magistrate knowing full well it is BS. Pestinea really surprised me with this kind of nonsensical statement coming from his office.
THE PEOPLE WAS ON A PUBLIC ROAD …FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT A PUBLIC ROAD IS IT IS LIKE WALKING OUT THE STATE HOUSE BUILDING ON THE ROAD..If Bubbles came out with a gun like the WILD WILD WEST HOW WAS IT THE PEOPLE WAS NOT INTIMIDATED?… DID THE JUDGES THINK FOR ONE MINUTE HOW THE PERSON WHO HAD A GUN TO THEIR IS FEELING….
You lie you lie you lie….it is not a public road…be quiet
It is either you do not know or have not seen the building or you have no idea what a public road is. If the people were not on the public road then the building is on the public road.
I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FINDINGS, LAW IS LAW BUT WHY DID THE JUDGES NOT UPGRADE THE FINE IF THE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A SLAP ON THE WRIST, YET WHEN THEY THINK IT IS TOO HIGH THEY LOWER IT.
THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
how the courts can allow people to have unlicensed fire arm and ammunition in their possesstion. what a country! it is the real wild wild west.
@ ??????
I recently saw the movie with May West on TV. What a movie. What a woman. In those days people had no respect for the Law and for others. It was not safe to live in those areas. They would go after people with guns, steal their belongings and murder them and more. Some of this is occurring in DA and sadly so. We say that times have changed. It changed for a while but it has returned to those days of the wild, wild, West in this respect.
People were in your yard and the first thing you can think of is taking a gun? He had planned to either injure or murder them.
Nationals and tourists can no longer enjoy an outing to the river and to bath in our beautiful fresh and clean water without falling victims to criminals. Their very own people are doing this to them. Is this not sad?
Let us pray for Dominica and those criminals as well who love guns and like to use them with no concern for the rights, dignity and life of others. May they cease using guns and committing crimes and return to a law-abiding life. May God help them.
Bublesis not the issue here. He admitted to his guilt of having an unlicensed firearm. That is humility. The state on the other hand acting through its agent – , failed to follow correct procedures as set out by the law. He wanted to show off tohis radio talkshow hosts. We still live in a land that is governed by laws, not the views of radio talkshow hosts and haters of everything and anybody who associate with Skerrit. The law is the law – whether we like it in this instance or not
Padna you are right on Q.
@ DEE WEE
You have the meaning of the word ‘humility’ all wrong. Humility is when you have done something wrong and you take it upon yourself to admit your fault and ask for forgiveness; not when you are arrested and charged and then in front of a judge/magistrate admit you were wrong so as to receive a lesser sentence. This is not humility. I urge you to refer to the Thesaurus, the computer research and a dictionary for the meaning of humility.
Humility also means when you do not keep hatred for others and you wish them well. This is true humility. He needs to cultivate this and you, the meaning of same.
It is important to speak the truth of what occurred. This is what they were discussing. Do you want to deprive them and the Media of their right?
@ JUSTICE & TRUTH- My comment was meant for Dee Wee Sho
NO LAW NO CONSTITUTION!!!!!!!
Apparently you know nothing about either humility or law. A humble man will respect the law and be in conformity to it rather than deliberately disregarding it and then admitting wrong only when he is caught. A humble man with an unlicensed gun would first of all seek to have that gun licensed. What startles me most is that many of those persons are in church every Sunday under the disguise of Christianity. After all aren’t they the ones who support the No Law or Constitution statement and aren’t they the same ones also who go up on church pulpits and preach the “Law is Abolished?” So their actions don’t surprise me.
No judges. Not that he is lucky but in Dominica these days, the law seem to work only for one set and hence, the other set can get away with almost anything. I am however happy you all made it very clear that it was luck
I agree Bubbles. Yet the police want other people with illegal guns to turn them in.
The Court of Appeals got it right. Bubbles should have ensured that his gun was lisenced. Behanzin was right on this decision
Bubbles did not intimidate. It was the other way around. Behanzin’s decision was definetly questionable.
Since this is the case Bubbles should sue the trespassers. Though he perhaps does not need the money he needs to teach the trespassers a lesson- sue them and donate the money to charity. They were too out of place!
@ Unbias
There you go again. You know that guns are dangerous. They can maim and murder. Anyone who takes a gun from his house and goes outside to meet people projects that he has the intention to either commit an injury or murder or more. It is a grievous crime to carry a gun; likewise any other weapon. It was not a matter of defending himself. I am certain they did not go to the property to harm him. Who started the fracas? Who was on the defensive? Who had the gun and an unlicensed one at that? As the judge said he was indeed fortunate. That gun should have been confiscated and not returned to him for one, it is unlicensed. This too should be the Law. This is the Law of other countries. Dominica should not be any different.
Mike Douglas toujour di “say apres makiyo van nou kay sav comment e van par liv”. Even if they did not defend the case properly the Appeal Justices saw right through the smoke and mirrors.
It seems to me that Bubbles has won his case big time despite the comments of the Learned Judges.
Bubbles had already pleaded guilty to possesion of an unlicensed firearm. The fine for that was upheld. However he had pleaded not guilty to the charged of imtimidation but was convicted on that charged by the Magistrate and had his firearm confiscated.
The Court of Appeal overturned that conviction and returned the man firearm to him. In my view Bubbles won big time.
While hearing the matter, the DPP’s office had conceded that the magistrate had not complied with the law in confiscation the firearm and ammunition and had also failed to produced the notes of evidence on time, despite repeated efforts and attempts. gone missing i presume, i wander how?
@ ex police
On a technicality eh? This is what acquits criminals and murderers and sets them free to roam society and commit additional crimes, sometimes worst ones.
Well, the case is ended everyone hopes but the facts of the case remains. It is now history and written down in history. You know, history repeats itself be it some years from now. Who knows? Time will tell.
Seems like Alexis thinks he owns the country.
He know he wrong and he still appealing a fine of 1000 dollars.
beauty95. Before you make that stupid comment you should have read the facts of the case. He does not think he own the country. Everyone is entitled to due process of the law. He felt that the judgement was wrong and he had the right to appeal the decision which is his constitutional right to do. Before some of us blog we must read and try to make positive comments for the world is reading what we write. Stop being negative at all things and sometimes we put politics or religion in things that has no reason for being in the statement. If you knew the facts of the case, your statement would have been different.
IN NEW YORK YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUCH BUT I WILL ADD THIS LITTLE BIT: HOW IS IT WE SO QUICK TO COMMENT ON A STORY THAT WE HAVE NOT UNDERSTOOD????
I FIND THIS MIND BOGGLING THAT PEOPLE LIKE BEAUTY95 WOULD TYPE AND SEND COMMENTS TO THIS BLOG ON A TOPIC THAT THEY HAVE NIOT TAKEN THE TIME TO FULLY UNDERSTAND. BUBBLES PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE CHARGE AND HE ACCEPTED THAT FINE BUT HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE OTHER AND BECAUSE THEY WERE CHARGES FROM THE SAME ALLEGATION THE ENTIRE CONVICTION HAD TO BE APPEALED BUT BUBBLES ALREADY PLACED HIMSELF AT THE MERCY OF THE COURT FOR THE FIRST CHARGE FOR WHICH HE PLEADED GUILTY. ONCE YOU ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DLP YOU GUILTY AND THE PROCESS OF LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU. WELL YOU ALL WRONG EVERYONE IS IONNOCENT UNTIL AND UNTIL AND UNTIL THAT PERSON IS PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW, NOT ON A RADIO TALK SHOW NO MATTER HOW ELLOQUENT THE HOST IS. LEARN THAT.
Appealing is not only for one set…
How do these people think. Everyone is entitled to due process and the protection of the law. This guy called beauty decided to not read the legal writing of scholars and speak Q95 gibberish. And beauty gets 20 stupid people to support him.
bubbles have all his right cuz if it was me all now i would be in stockfarm…..
@ crab man.. You really seem to be a nuisance. Go to God in prayer nuh…. That is good for Bubbles!
You are really a crabman, what else would one expect of you.
This is why I don’t do religion because when bible toting people can be so decietful what can say about the street thug?
Do not let that deter you. Do what you know is right in the sight of the Lord.
DON’T BE JUDGEMENTAL.
You will tell God is bubbles that prevent you from accepting him.
Tell what GOD? you see me mention GOD here? I may be closer to GOD than you! I refered to ALL SO CALLED LYING AND DECIETFUL BIBLE TOTING HYPOCHRITES IN HIGH TONE LANGUAGE AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES DISGUISED UNDER CHRISTIANITY!
@ INTL SPY
I suppose that spies of any nature really do not do religion. They are too busy spying.
You better start doing religion for the day will come when you will regret that you did not do it. In any case, it is not doing religion, it is practicing the faith.
If we have done it as we should, we will most certainly obtain eternal salvation promised to us by Our Lord Jesus Christ who is faithful and true to His promise.
Woe to those who renounce it, neglect it and refuse to worship God. They are trampling upon their redemption. Give this a good mortal and spiritual thought.
BUBBLES WE BEHIND YOU ALL DE WAY.
Who is that we you are referring to? Let others take heed…Their day in court will also come to past.
You helping him to catch crabs to sell to build more villas too?
hahahahaha…
Well well well I guess you must be his Butttttt!!!Ha HA.
@ patriot
Also to Hell?