D’Nairo Shaquille Greaves will spend almost seven more years at Dodds Prison after a High Court judge ruled that a fine would not reflect the seriousness of his possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Earlier this year, Greaves, of Third Avenue, New Orleans, was convicted by a jury, by a majority of eight to one, of having a ‘19 Gen 4’ 9mm Luger calibre pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition on July 20, 2022.
Delivering the sentence in the No 4 Supreme Court, Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell said, “This is clearly not one of those situations where a fine is appropriate. A custodial sentence is clearly warranted to drive home the seriousness of the offence to deter others from committing similar offences, to protect society and maintain the public’s confidence in the justice system.”
She reached an eight-year starting point for the firearm and six years for the ammunition, identifying as aggravating factors the deliberate, conscious decision to have the firearm, the fact that it was loaded, Greaves’ presence in the company of a person wanted for a capital offence, and his attempts to evade police.
The judge noted that Greaves maintained his innocence in the matters and had said his decision to assist a friend had led to his current legal predicament.
“In speaking about this offence, you acknowledged being present when the alleged offences occurred but maintain that you did not possess the firearm and ammunition. You maintain your innocence. You also expressed distrust about your involvement with the criminal justice system,” she said, noting that he had been assessed as having a moderate risk of reoffending.
After deductions, he was left with six years and 248 days to serve for the gun and four years and 248 days for the ammunition.
The court heard that police went to a house in Bush Hall and, on arrival, saw Greaves at a window with a firearm. He ran from the window and a loud explosion was heard. He was caught in the yard, while a firearm was found on the living-room floor.
In his unsworn statement, Greaves said that, on the day of the incident, he went to collect a friend who was wanted by police so he could take him to an attorney, but by the time he arrived at the house, it was too late to go to the office. He was waiting for his friend in the workshop at the house when he heard a loud explosion and saw two masked men with guns shouting ‘police’.
He told the court, “I honestly have no idea, knowledge or anything about that gun. I was never by no window with no gun, and I could swear to God and in front of all these people here that I am innocent and had nothing to do with that gun.”
Defence attorney Shadia Simpson represented Greaves, while acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod prosecuted.
(JB)
