One of two Portmore men charged with illegal possession of firearm was granted bail when he appeared in the Spanish Town RM Court on Tuesday. He is Marlon Barrett, 29, a mason from Southborough.

His co-accused, John Roberts, was remanded until February 27 when both will appear in the gun court in the division.

The court learnt that on Thursday, January 15,a police party was patrolling the Southborough area when Barrett and Roberts were seen among a group of men who were acting suspiciously. Police accosted the men in an alleyway. A Remington shotgun was seized and the men ran but Barrett and Roberts were held. They were charged.

However, defence attorney for Barrett, Dale Staple, told the court that his client was just walking towards the police when he was held and that he is not a wrongdoer. He also mentioned that Barrett did not know that the men ran, as he had no connection with the group.

Senior Resident Magistrate for St Catherine, Lorna Errar, granted bail to Barrett on condition that he is home by 8 p.m. every day, although Roberts told the court that the police was lying he was remanded.

- R. T.