A police officer – 27-year old Sgt. Karim Warner – has been found guilty of discharging his weapon in a public road and is to be sentenced for the crime on Friday.
The incident happened on December 3, 2023, and arose out of a business transaction between Sgt. Warner and the virtual complainants, Lenise Martin and Darren Jeanville who had rented a motor vehicle from the officer.
It appears as the couple failed to pay for use of the vehicle and out of this dispute, the two drove off in the rented vehicle. Warner gave chase and caught up with them on the outskirts of Willikies. The court heard that Warner discharged twelve round of his service weapon at the vehicle with both occupants inside.
Fortunately, neither received any injuries.
The case has been ongoing for more than a year with several delays and postponements. Finally, however, a verdict was handed down on Wednesday finding the police officer guilty.
Reports from the court indicate that the officer broke down in tears when the verdict was read.
His bail conditions are to continue and he is due to return to court on Friday when he will be sentenced.
Wade had high-powered character witnesses in the person of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Albert Wade, and head of Special Security Services, Wilbur Purcell. However, it is believed that the testimony of Martin went a long way in influencing the court’s decision.
