by Linda Straker
- 25 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition discovered and seized
- Richards on remand at Bordelais Correctional facility, St Lucia
- Richards faces summary charge
Grenadian national Francis David Lincoln Richards who was caught with ammunition at the George F L Charles Airport in St Lucia on Friday, 6 October 2023, has pleaded guilty to the charges he is facing and stands to be sentenced for up to 5 years imprisonment.
He is currently on remand at the Bordelais Correctional facility.
A news release on the St Lucia Royal Police Force Facebook page said that Richards was charged for Possession of Ammunition at Castries Airport on Friday, 6 October 2023, at about 3:30 pm, after the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) received a report of Possession of Ammunition at the airport. “In response to this information, investigators proceeded to the George F L Charles Airport. Upon their arrival, they spoke with law enforcement personnel who were present, including the Customs and Excise Department.”
“Initial inquiries revealed that a Grenadian National, 48-year-old Francis David Lincoln Richards had a scheduled flight to depart St Lucia for Barbados, followed by a further journey to Grenada. During the routine luggage screening of Francis Richards’ belongings, 25 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition were discovered and seized,” the release said.
As a result, Richards was arrested and subsequently charged with Possession of Ammunition and Attempting to Export Ammunition. He was presented before the First District Court, where he pleaded guilty to both charges. A date has been scheduled for sentencing.
Online research shows that Section 21 of St Lucia’s firearm legislation states that a person shall not import into or export from St Lucia any firearm or ammunition except unless he or she is the holder of a firearm import licence or a firearm export licence granted by the appropriate authority.
“A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable; (a) in the case of a prohibited weapon — (i) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years; (ii) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term of not less than 20 years.”
The subsection further explained that in the case of a restricted weapon or restricted ammunition, on summary conviction charge that person shall be imprisoned for a term of not less than 5 years; or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term of not less than 15 years.
Richards, who according to reports out of St Lucia is the owner of a popular bar, is facing a summary charge.
Question is does he have a gun in Grenada that is chambered for .22 He must have really needed them to risk 5 years for 25 little .22 rounds.
Lock him up. Nothing less than 5years.
You can’t fix stupid…