Justice Bryan Sykes yesterday sentenced 26-year-old Douglas Gazader, a bank teller of Heathfield district, St Catherine, to three years imprisonment at hard labour for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

Gazader was also fined $300,000 or 12 months imprisonment for discharging a firearm in a public place.

The judge said if the fine was not paid, Gazader will have to serve a total of four years behind bars.

The Crown led evidence at the trial in the St Ann Circuit Court that on October 1, 2007, Gazader and friends were at a beach at Priory, St Ann. Gazader fired shots from a 9mm pistol.

The matter was reported to the police and he was arrested and charged.

Sykes found him guilty of the charges. Sentencing was put off until yesterday in the Gun Court.