Former Customs and Border Control officer Timothy McKenzie has pleaded guilty to having two illegal handguns and 50 rounds of ammunition.
Appearing before the Grand Court on 1 Feb., McKenzie, 45, entered a last-minute change of plea which vacated a trial slated for later this month.
Both a 9mm Taurus and .45-calibre Astra handgun were discovered during a “proactive operation” by the RCIPS at McKenzie’s Bodden Town address on 24 Aug. last year.
McKenzie was charged with four counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm, two of which were for the handguns and two for the 20 and 30 rounds of .45-calibre and 9mm ammunition, respectively.
During the hearing, McKenzie’s lawyer, Jonathon Hughes, brought forward a bail application asking that his client be released pending sentencing to “put his family affairs in order”.
“He has never been in trouble before, and previously worked with Customs for 24 years,” said Hughes, “He is simply asking that in light of the guilty pleas and the fact that any sentence imposed will be in the double figures, he can be released on whatever bail conditions the court sees fit so that he can simply put his affairs in order.”
The prosecution opposed the application.
“Not only were we not given advanced notice of this application, we must oppose it,” said prosecutor Scott Wainwright. “The defendant has pled guilty to possession of two illegal firearms and a large quantity of ammunition, which makes him a flight risk.
“Additionally, any person capable of getting their hands on these types of weapons and such a large quantity of ammunition might cause public fear if released into the community.”
Justice Cheryll Richards, who presided over the hearing, rejected the bail application, but asked that prison officers accommodate McKenzie as much as possible with getting his affairs in order.
He was remanded into custody and will return for sentencing next month.
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