Deon Green, Gleaner Writer
LONDON, England:
TWO MEN who kidnapped a Jamaican in England, were sentenced to a total of 37 years on charges of false imprisonment, blackmail and firearms-related offences.
The men had demanded an £80,000 sterling ransom (J$8 million) for the 41-year-old Jamaican whose name the authorities have not disclosed for security reasons.
The Middlesex, Guild Hall Court was recently told that the convicted men, 30-year-old Oral Lattibeaudire and 26-year-old Kevin Jones gagged, beat and pistol-whipped their victim after snatching him from the street in Brixton, south London.
RANSOM DEMAND
The kidnapping took place last October. The kidnappers reportedly took their captive into an unoccupied flat in Norwood then demanded a ransom for his release.
Police officers caught the kidnappers after intelligence led them to a white Audi motor car in Peckham, south east London, on the night of October 7, 2004.
When confronted by police, Lattibeaudire pointed a handgun at one of the officers and was shot in the chest. Medical aid was given at the scene and he was taken to hospital with stomach wounds.
The hostage was discovered safe on the rear seat of the Audi with his hands and feet bound.
Lattibeaudire, also known as Michael Palmer, was found guilty of false imprisonment, blackmail and firearms-related offences. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Jones was handed a 17-year jail term following convictions for kidnapping, false imprisonment and blackmail.
