Panel Reserves Decision on Man’s Gun Possession Convictions

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The country’s final appellate court has reserved its decision on whether a man’s convictions for three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life should be overturned.

Deon Watson and another were accused of the May 31, 2012 armed robbery of Scotiabank at Stella Maris, Long Island, where two masked gunmen stormed the bank and fired shots while demanding cash.

The robbers escaped with $5,000 cash, and Watson was arrested a short time later on a Boston Whaler.

Watson was acquitted of the bank robbery, but he was convicted of three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment following a trial in 2016.

The Court of Appeal affirmed his convictions in 2020.

Watson’s lawyer argued before the Privy Council that the verdicts were inconsistent and he should have been cleared of all charges.