Update: Man Fined $20K Over Gun

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Laurent Vanderbrouke

(PLTM) - Laurent Vanderbrouke, 42, a national of Martinique who was found guilty for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20,000, in addition to $500 for the charge of failure to declare.

In an appearance before the Magistrate's Court a short while ago, before handing down sentencing on the matter, Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-Dabreo expressed that as this matter is a very exceptional one, it encouraged the court to exercise leniency by going below the stipulated minimum fine of $50,000.

Vanderbrouke was granted a month to gather funds to pay the fine. He is scheduled to make another appearance on January 16 if the fines are not paid.

The court’s compassion also extended to the accused record, where given the circumstances of the matter, Magistrate Baptiste-Dabreo noted that the conviction will not be recorded.

Earlier Article Published December 1, 2016 - French Man Found Guilty Of Gun Possession

In an appearance before the Magistrate's Court earlier today, December 1, Laurent Vanderbrouke, 42, a national of Martinique was found guilty for the charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and failure to declare.

Prior the court’s decision, Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-Dabreo, who presided over the proceedings, noted that the court believes that the defendant was quite sincere in giving evidence, where he noted that he was of the view the gun is fake and that it was given to him by a friend as a keepsake.

She further noted that ignorance of the law is no defense under the law and that whether or not the accused is of the view that it is fake, the law states that any component of a gun can be considered a firearm.

she noted that according to evidence given by police armorer, the blocked cylinder of the gun can be easily replace with one that is functional.

“What he believes does not change the law and the law states that it is a firearm,” the court stated.

The accused will make another appearance later today for sentencing.

During a trail yesterday, November 30, Vanderbrouke disclosed that the gun and its holster were given to him as a keepsake more than 20 years ago by a friend.

He noted that that he was informed by the friend that it was not a real gun and added that he kept it as it had sentimental value, in remembrance of his friend, who is now deceased.

He informed the court that he did not declare the item as a firearm at the customs department upon his entry to the Territory because he was of the view that it was not real.

“It’s not a real gun. It cannot be used. It cannot kill or harm anyone,” the accused told the court.

In an earlier appearance, firearms expert of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Officer Durville Carty testified that the gun is fully functional and can easily be altered to become lethal.

According to the particulars of the matter, on November 14, the accused, who was visiting the Territory on his boat with his girlfriend, proceeded to get checked in and cleared with local customs and immigration officers.

As per procedure, he was questioned whether or not he had anything to declare, to which he indicated no. In addition, he checked off the 'no' check box adjacent the question that inquires whether or not persons have any firearms to declare.

Later that day, as a result of a search conducted by the officers, a Black Powder 44 caliber revolver was found in the saloon of the boat, under the cushion of a chair in a brown leather holster.

Under police interview, he informed the officer that he knew it was on board and knew of its specific location.

Following a test conducted by local police armorer, the gun was indicated to be not operable---a fake gun.

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