Policewoman charged with negligence after thieves stole her service pistol, freed
A policewoman who was charged with negligence after thieves broke into her vehicle and stole her service pistol was freed on Friday.
Corporal Janice Cogheil was acquitted when she appeared before the St. Andrew Parish Court.
Prosecutors reported that on April 13, 2016, Corporal Cogheil went to the Harbour View shopping centre to purchase items.
She left her firearm and other valuables in her car.
When she returned, she discovered that the car was broken into and the firearm stolen.
But at her trial, defence attorneys Peter Champagnie and Kemar Robinson challenged the legality of her arrest and charge and urged the parish judge to dismiss the case.
The attorneys argued that the Firearms Act did not anticipate circumstances like Corporal Cogheil’s.
Mr. Champagnie highlighted that there are no provisions under the Act that deals with government issued firearms.
The application was upheld by the judge who agreed that neither the Firearms Act nor the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act provided for circumstances where a firearm issued to a member of the JCF is negligently lost.
Afta ano like dem tek it offa har… She cyaaah do nuttn much if dem bruk in a har car when she nuh dere.