Convicted gun witnesses plead against jail
Ashley Terry and Sean Dunbar
(CNS): A couple who gave evidence in a trial against a local man with a reputation for gang-related violence begged not to go to jail at the sentencing hearing Wednesday. Ashley Terry and Sean Dunbar appeared in court alongside Jose ‘Peto’ Sanchez for the possession of a handgun at a Bodden Town bar last year. Their attorneys argued that because of the circumstances of their part in the possession and the evidence they gave against a man with a “reputation for murder”, they should receive community-based punishments.
Terry and Dunbar, both 22 years old, were celebrating their engagement on their first night out since the birth of their baby last summer at the Evaglow Bar when a chance encounter with Sanchez (29) changed their lives, as they were sucked into the “unexpected and unwilling” brief possession of Sanchez’ 9mm handgun when he forced it on Terry.
Dunbar pleaded guilty to possessing Sanchez’ gun as soon as he was arrested and agreed from the get-go to give evidence against the renowned gangster. He admitted that in panic he had picked up the handgun after Sanchez thrust it at his girlfriend when police arrived at the bar. She had put the weapon down on the ground behind a car, and because he did not want her implicated in handling the loaded gun, he took it but was later arrested along with Terry after police followed the couple home.
Terry had also agreed to give evidence against Sanchez and she was eventually convicted of accessory to the possession of the firearm.
Sanchez, who was convicted with the possession of the same gun following the trial in which Dunbar and Terry gave evidence, is facing more than ten years in jail. Not only was he found guilty but he also pleaded guilty to possessing and firing the gun on another occasion.
Sanchez fired off several rounds in Cruz Lane in June last year while on the hunt for David Bodden, a man Sanchez was in dispute with over evidence given in his trial and acquittal for the murder of Special Olympian, Solomon (Solly) Webster.
Sanchez is well known to the police as a suspected prominent West Bay gang member. While his rap sheet is limited to convictions for less serious crimes, such as drug possession and assault, the West Bay man has been tried for murder twice in the last six years and has been acquitted both times.
Defence lawyer Amelia Fosuhene, who represented Terry, said that Sanchez had a reputation for being involved in at least three killings and was known to be a man who did not react well to being slighted, which demonstrated the courage her client had shown giving evidence against him. She urged the judge not to send Terry to jail as she has very young children, one of whom has special needs.
Fosuhene pointed out that her client has no previous convictions and until she was charged in this case, she had a secure job. The fateful encounter with Sanchez and her fleeting and unwilling possession of a loaded gun had turned her life upside down already, the lawyer argued.
Attorney Laurence Aiolfi pleaded on behalf of Dunbar that he too should avoid jail. Although charged with a much more serious offence that his girlfriend, he argued that Dunbar should not receive the mandatory minimum sentence as his possession of the weapon was also “unexpected and unwilling” and there were exceptional circumstances.
In spite of Sanchez’ reputation and the fear surrounding giving evidence against him, Dunbar cooperated and offered significant assistance to the crown from the very beginning, admitting his own part in the crime immediately and telling the police on the night he was arrested exactly what happened and how he came to be in possession of Sanchez’ gun.
Pointing to the recent case of Justin Ebanks, who was given a significantly reduced sentence for possession of a weapon after he testified in a gang-related murder trial, Aiolfi argued that his client was even less culpable.
While Ebanks admitted having his gun for some time for self-defence, implying its possible use, Dunbar was in possession of Sanchez’ gun for only moments and only as a result of the “panicked” decision. He had refused to take the weapon when Sanchez tried to give it to him directly but ended up taking it to protect his fiancée.
The couple will now have to wait until December to find out their fate as the judge said he would deliver his ruling just before Christmas, but both were bailed to return to court.
Parents, start doing your job. Or else, you will watch as your off-spring get dragged away to HMP or watch as they are lowered into the ground for all eternity….
If we as parents, do not teach our children the consequences of their actions, from infant – adolescence, then WE have failed them.
If we continue to ignore our obligations as parents, society will reap our havoc.
That’s why this island is f_ _kd now from all the illuminati bs keeping every one of us like puppets,pulling the strings to our demise,caymanians we all are doomed its either prison or the grave yard for us if we stay here,the infection has spread widely and its no one fault but our very own ancestors they were the ones who invited these devils to our shores with kindness instead we should have greeted them like the pirates we celebrate every year now we are here on this small little city with over 135 different nationalities.no wonder why Caymanians can’t get no head way in life cuz its all being consumed by ppl who consider the elite because of their love of money ready to sell out everything even their very souls anyways the revolution soon happen just like many places in the world we need to come together n stamp out this evil and when it starts not even ur 44 magnum can help u bobo
WE are with you. YOU are not alone.
Fear not when the wicked come to eat up your flesh, the rod and spear protecteth you wherever you dwelleth as a righteous man.
For they speak openly and freely about US, but NOT of OUR Father.
ASK them….the ones who really are in the know at “sacred temple” lodges…
He IS Risen..Forever more…believe me they KNOW this.
I understand that in a split second things escalate and events can transpire that you didn’t plan for. You might not have planned for your night to go as it did. With maturity, however, you realize what you have to lose and you don’t gamble with it. You don’t keep friendships with people who you know are living a risky life and not expect it to touch your life at some point. I highly doubt this was he first gun interaction he had that night when he flung it at the girl. We all have to take responsibility for situations we allow ourselves to participate in. I hope they don’t go to jail because human nature would see many of us do things to protect others that could land us in trouble, lets not suffer their children to the harsh life of living in a social services situation. They shouldn’t escape punishment, probation, curfew, community service they should get it all. Let this be stern warning.
A stern warning? Because concealing a firearm from the police is the kind of offence that you should just get a wrist slap for. Don’t forget they had drugs and a flare-up at home a well! Just because you have young children is not a get out of jail free card. What kind of example will they make as parents?
Agree @10:18pm too many of these gangsters, would-be gangsters are able to use their children as shields and as sympathy card with courts and family while the children are stuck with them. If they are put in jail the children may have a better chance. Enforce the CHildren Law, find a loving and caring home for the children in this and other similar situations, that’s how we start breaking these cycles. In cases where they can be deported do that too and stop using the children to keep criminals here. Let them return home and if really sorry get life together and take their children with them.
Those who are sympathetic and feel the law applicable to gun control needs revamping, to which I agree, lobby the MLAs to make that change.
BETTER FOR A CHILD TO HAVE NO BIOLOGICAL PARENT THAN A BAD PARENT!!! This is what we all need to remember.
Even if there story is believed, I did not see them taking the gun to the cops on the way home, did you? Jail, jail, jail.
10 years minimum
The only reason they started singing was they got caught…..
“Unexpected and unwilling” possession of the firearm. I get the argument that the gun is thrust into your hands and in a panic you hide it behind a car because you don’t want to be caught with it. But whats unexpected or unwilling when you not only don’t tell the police when they arrive, but you RETRIEVE the gun and then take it home with you! The co-operation with the police only starts when they find you at home with the gun.
The words cock-and-bull spring to mind. “Now you have caught us, let us tell you what happened.”
Well if you were Shay Whitey III Esquire or the son of the secret Handshake grand master flash yes you would be given the benefit of the Doubt! but we were built to go to prison bro so no judge is going to give you a break brethren. The jailing of locals is what this game is all about star!
Yep. Nothing to do with concealing the gun, then taking it home. And of course, nothing to do with the fact that the police found ammo, ganga and a flaregun in their house as well. Oh no, just pure discrimination.
yawn…excuses…excuses……
if you hang around with wannabe gangster muppetts, then be prepared for the consequences…
Guns only belong in the hands of a righteous police force with the oversight of a righteous government.
No one else needs them.
If the legal system fails, then people will arm themselves.
This is not what I want.
The buck stops at the Government door.
Give me 3 months and we could eradicate every single illegal gun in Cayman.
We start with long range metal detectors, and unobtrusive cameras and detectors at the entrance of every single bar, club, shop and government building.
Every time an alarm goes off, we do facial recognition or fingerprinting if possible.
We also have heightened patrols with enhanced listening in certain KNOWN areas.
If the police have no will, there will be no way.
Finally, our weak justice system freemason sleazebags need to stop letting criminals go.
Where did I put my Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum?
Long range metal detectors?
Yes, firearms have a distinct signature, but you knew that. Right?
You took it too far when you brought masons into it, too far brother… too far. You’d be amazed at how little you know.
When the very foundation of society is compromised by a group of people who are willing to impose the most gravity-defying mind games on an unsuspecting public, we have a problem Houston. No, I think I know more than you think I know.
Much much more. Imagine biting into a beautiful apple only to find out that it is rotten to the core?
I mean so rotten that there is not even a little piece of goodness that could be cut out and consumed.
I think back to the words of Jesus, “A tree is known by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears rotten fruit.”
Now, if you subscribe to those words of wisdom, you can call me “brother”.
I’m with you 9:06am! You are not alone. I agree 100%.
People have no idea how corrupt our Country is! This is bad folks; for such a small place, we have really got some serious issues at hand!
Condoms. Condoms. Condoms. Make them free and widely available. Save a few from themselves.
Please help these people. Please cayman.