The trial of a man accused of illegally having a police-grade bulletproof vest began in the Grand Court on Monday, 20 March.
According to Detective Constable Jonathan Parchment, the body armour was found in the attic of Mitchell Vance Hurlston during a police search of the man’s West Bay home on 1 July 2022.
“The vest is the same one issued to police officers, a Point Blank bulletproof vest. It was even the same colour,” said Parchment, while giving evidence before the jury of five women and two men.
At the time of the raid, officers from the Serious Crime Task Force, together with Customs and Border Control, were executing a search warrant for firearms. Although no guns were found, the vest, which was in a clear plastic bag, was found sealed away in the attic.
“When the vest was shown to Mr. Hurlston, he said he was aware of it and that he had found it in the landfill several years ago and decided to keep it,” said Parchment.
Hurlston’s alleged response is said to have been recorded by Parchment, who proceeded to arrest him.
“He was in custody for one day, and the following day he was interviewed. During that interview, which was video and audio recorded, he made a different admission,” said the officer.
According to the police, Hurlston went on to claim that the vest was brought to his house by his brother and that he was not the owner of the item.
Hurlston faces a single count of possession of a bulletproof vest, which he has denied. The trial continues tomorrow.
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Why would having such a vest be a crime anyway? It’s clearly so very far from having illegal firearms. I think a public discussion is in order and maybe some changes to laws, what do you think?