Harford Pleads Guilty To Drug Charges
The trial of 28-year-old Jakai Harford ended this morning when he admitted possessing cannabis and cocaine on January 8, 2011. Mr. Harford was sentenced to a total of five years in prison.
ZBM News reported that Police found the drugs on Mr. Harford’s property. Justice Carlisle Greaves ordered the money found by police during the raid be forfeited over to the Crown as he deemed it to be the proceeds of crime.
Mr Harford had initially denied the charges, but he changed his pleas to the drug possession offences at Supreme Court this morning.
Pusine Judge Carlisle Greaves directed the jury to find Mr Harford guilty on the drugs charges, and not guilty on the rest.
Senior prosecutor Susan Mulligan explained to the judge that the Crown would not pursue the weapon’s charge because the defendants DNA was not found on the gun, rather the DNA of two unknown people. Also, the informant who told police about the items was no longer cooperating with police.
[File photo]
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So, if I have a gun in my house, as long as it does’t have my DNA on it I am safe? Don’t know the legal arguments, but seems a bit strange
It would have been different if the gun was actually found in his house. Its hard to prove ownership if its found in an area that others have access to. The fact that it didn’t have his DNA on it only adds to the fact that the prosecution wouldn’t have been able to prove without a reasonable doubt that the gun was his. Things would have been ALOT different had it had some of his DNA on it…
It sucks, but its the law!
No as long as you have coke and weed as well as the gun, but no DNA on the gun, then you are safe from gun charges. Drugs are more deadly than guns apparently! SMH
None of that stuff was located on his property guys. Its in plain english on all of the reports.
Everyone always got something to say but missing out on whats more important which is the common facts. So quick to judge someone without knowing the true facts behind it. I wish Bermudians would STFU!!!
I like his mom. She said $20,000 was hers. Well, well , well. Can we all line up? Maybe he pleaded guilty to ensure some of the money would be left when he gets out. Bring in the money sniffing dogs. There is a treasure hidden in the house and yard.
Whoever this is you know nothing unless you live in the house with him so if you don’t mind, mind your own business cause your wrong,highly unappreciated comment.
The media is not always correct
FREE JUICY!! He beat the big charge! I would have plead out to!CANT KEEP A GOOD MON DOWN.He’ll be out in the next 2 years. Large up my N*#+@!
@don’t say wateva
Jakai your Ni@@a right?…not mad at you for that…but….as a close ace boy to him, I hope you encourage him do move forward in a positive stance….let go the street life, help mentor the younger youths around 42nd and let them know that there IS a dead end with street thuggin and drug selling.
As a young black male in my 30′s….I’m sick and tired of seeing you “crews” heading to court for the purpose of….Nothing!!!
Nelson Mandela is the only black man that went to jail for a purpose!
I don’t understand why my nowadays black men thinking going to jail is about style and fashion or street credit.
Educate yourselves…there are evening courses at BDA College that can help anyone also community school classes that can help anyone.
Westgate shouldn’t be the Ultimate life goal for all you so called crews…42nd, Parkside, M.O.B., etc etc…..all that glamour and flash is all temporary.
I hope all you aceboys help Jakai pay his lawyer fees and assist his mother where needed…..thats a true friend…aceboys only buy rounds at the bar.
Ok…the gun was not found in his possession and had none of his DNA but, the drugs were not in his possession and did not have his DNA either yet he was still charged and plead guilty. so what da?!
im on the same page as you..if it wasnt his D.N.A on the gun! was the gun linked to any other shooting? did you look into that? if its 3yrs just for having a machete str8 of the back, shouldnt it be something mandatory that if found with a gun its a set sentance? think about it, this guys brother died from the gun! and he has been shot as well. who in there right mind wouldnt buy a gun after going through all that, let alone the life style that he lives. no DNA on the gun!! stop the madness.. but you found DNA on the drugs?! REALLY….
Wasn’t on his property! Please read guys before you comment.
Your wrong the drugs did have his DNA on it thats why he plead out. Get it right.
if some of the money was hsi moms she sould have gotten it from him befrore he got arrested, she sounds not well in he head . she needs to know when the going was good she should have gotten all she needed and i hope she is the owner of her house if he son was bring home all that money ,cause it all gone now maybe gov can fix the broken bues and get the children to school so they and learn not to be like mr harford
MIND YOUR BUSINESS! YOU DONT KNOW ANYTHING… & at the end of the day he has his own mind whether his mother agrees with his choice or not he is a grown man she doesnt have any say in what he chooses to do.
@ Dill
What ya dumb like others have said you should probably read it all before you comment and if you don’t know all the facts than STFU. You don’t know this young man nor do you know his mother. Who are you to be judging anyone I’m sure your closet isn’t no cleaner than his…. FREAK!!!
This guy has been shot how many times? Twice I believe according to the papers, brother was murdered…..so thats means he’s obviously a target…….plead guilty=I can’t get shot in prison= I get to live a little longer.
If we had a ‘three strikes’ rule this lowlife would be looking at 25 years.
STFU you sound dopey, do your research on the 3 strikes law and see who it’s targeting!! We don’t need that here, giving them more power is not the solution!!
Really? Three strikes laws target people who are habitual and violent criminals like this creep.
@ Riley B King, you need to be quiet too cause you don’t know sh%t….
My theory is starting to prove correct, they are more concerned with drugs than pedophilia, rape, assault, and gun possession. I often wonder if they are more harsh with drugs because it is competing with someone’s business that is much higher up??? It just doesn’t make sense. Just what the hell is going on up there?
I feel where your coming from @My Two Cents and those boys are going to make a killing on their weed when the time is right not many of them go to Jail you hear their name and never see their face then you never hear the case again beside the one or two they offer up.
Good trend of thought, now just dig a little deeper and you’ll see the BIGGER picture. You pretty much hit the nail on the head though!!
I am predicting that someday we will find out that the reason governments don’t want to make marijuana legal is because some of the very people in government positions are making MONEY in the BLACK MARKET of drugs. Not just here in Bermuda but in the U.S. also. Of course, I have no proof of this, but it is just something I feel, call it a sixth sense. Things just aren’t adding up anymore. They aren’t making any sense. Usually that means something else is going on that we don’t see.
You really want to know about drugs and money etc.. and how it works all over the world ESPECIALLY Bermuda. You need to watch Lords of the Mafia. It really puts in perspective the drug trade as it exists. It also sheds light on how the criminal underworld is intertwined with the (so called) legit and legal businesses as (we) know or (assume) we know. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lords_of_the_mafia_box_set/ or you can rent from Leisure time. Open your eyes to what is really going on in Bermuda and around the world.
Okay..I read the article and no where does it say he was in possession of the gun..so therefore he could not be charged for that…the gun was located in a shed that wasn’t his, on or near his property…The witness who gave the information is no longer willing to come forward…makes me wonder are those that are coming forward genuine? are they giving information out of the goodness of their heart because it is the right thing to do or is it just for the reward money….
I think they are giving the info out of hatered and jealousy. But when they are asked to testify, they go lock jawwed and apparently as stated above, they are no longer cooperating. When that happens, their names should be leaked to the newspapers to teach them a lesson! LOL
My thing is just look at the amount of time (5 years) for the drugs they found…I can see exactly what happened here.
The prosecution felt that they did not have compelling evidence (although they could have pursued the case without DNA evidence) but what they wanted to do was be sure that they secured a conviction for the drugs so they came to a deal for him to plead guilty to the drugs and then they give some lame explanation as to why they did not pursue the charges..he did not have a change of heart for nothing.Or good will..people should go sit in court during the trial..it’s free…lol..u would see all the bs that takes place..
5 years for drugs and the quantity of cash (on his person)…please…Stevie Wonder can see that this was a
plea bargain..his defense council is serious power…not to mention the priors..sad sad sad
anything less than 10 years is a joke. This idiot had serious weight to let off and guaranteed more prior to getting caught.. 28 years old with the mental capacity and social maturity of a 14 year old
u kno NOTHING I have personally seen him try 2 better himself but the media is making him out 2 be a monster & he is not so u sound like the fool with the mental capacity of a 14 year old
so if u kno NOTHING about him dnt talk
“The court heard from police witnesses that most of the drugs were stashed in the walls and ceiling of a derelict building in Harford’s yard, packaged in twists ready for sale.
A semi automatic handgun loaded with a live bullet was also hidden in the building which was enclosed within the yard of the house by a 14-foot-high wall.”
FREE JUICY JAY!!!! THEY WILL NEVER EVER TAKE YOUR CROWN!!!! TRUST IN THE FATHER ABOVE AND HE WIL DELIVER YOU FROM THIS ORDEAL FAMLAY!
I’m trying to figure out why people are STILL assuming things which are not true and the article is THERE in front of your face.
Forget his background, who he is, what’s his past etc. and face the FACTS. Stop worrying about his mother, or money or anything that has to do with HIS PERSONAL life!
So many of you just LIVE to gossip, assume and worry about things that has nothing to do with you.
STOP being small minded Bermudians. Its a BIG world out there and NOOOOOOOBODYYYYY cares about YOU, YOUR COMMENT, YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU HAVE AND WHERE YOU COME FROM.
#thatisalloglies.
@Typcial….if you are one of them that doesn’t care about comments, why you commented??????????
FYI…When you get into trouble this is what happens…
Advice…just tell your gangster friends that it’s more to life than their street corner!!…DUH!
Just imagine this…the cops would be so bored and sleepy if young black males stayed out of trouble!…DUH
One more menace to society is off the streets, at least for a few years anyway
stfu ! your comment was not needed jus a waste of space
U DNT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM or HIS PERSONAL LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Harford was my client.
Both Mr. Mark Pettingill and I were the defence lawyers for Mr. Harford. Regrettably, the various media outlets have provided little information concerning the case and the evidence, which sadly seems to be the theme in recent trials; especially in respect of the defence case/submissions.
In this particular case, His Lordship’s comments during sentencing were so powerful and uplifting in the true spirit of our criminal justice system and it is a shame that the exchange which occurred between Mr. Harford and the Judge were not printed or expressed to the community.
Like many cases, there were many features in this case which have not been expressed to the public which affect how we interpret the final outcome and how we express our judgment on Mr. Harford. The Crown has reasons which, in my respectful opinion, extend beyond the lack of DNA/fingerprints/independent witnesses as to why an offer was ultimately made to plead on the drugs and not the firearms related charges, considering the standard which our law recognizes; that being the standard of reasonable doubt.
In every case, jurors are told not to read the newspapers or follow the media during a trial as the reporters sometimes make mistakes or misstate facts; or as a result of the editors’ final decisions as to what makes the headlines. They are asked not to do their own research so that the facts become their sole basis for their ultimate verdict.
Yes, it is correct that Mr. Harford has a past, a past which he accepted in open court, a past which is not worthy of praise in some regards, but credit to him for ultimately accepting responsibility. However, he always maintained his innocence in respect of the firearm and ammunition charges, even at the very end, and having the experience of working with him over the past few months, we accept his word.
Despite the community’s views and opinions of this man, I hope that we as a community allow this man the opportunity to change his previous life trajectory and afford him the support to go forward and create a new future. Much of that will be down to Mr. Harford. Despite the personal hardships and traumas which some of us face, including Mr. Harford, we must always accept responsibility for our actions and strive towards the goals of becoming better human beings, offering our community with our talents and gifts and encouraging those behind us (the next generation) to attain heights which we ourselves could never dream.
One of the most powerful comments during the sentencing came from the Judge who encouraged Mr. Harford to exert his influence within his community to move towards the goal of peace within our shores; to be a part of ending this havoc that is plaguing our island. Mr. Harford answered that call and had expressed that while awaiting his trial, at the request of another inmate, he had expressed his willingness to meet with old friends who may now be seen as rivals. For whatever reason, that end was not facilitated.
The real test will come when those who are currently locked away from the rest of us return to us and the steps they take to become more than what they have been. Our Bermudian people are a beautiful people of different cultures, personalities and experiences, but we must always remain steadfast in our dedication to our common goals of peace and fulfillment and the betterment of our country, irrespective of race, wealth or circumstance.
As long as there are segments of our society living in impoverished conditions, there may never be peace. I can only implore the readers of this publication to stop perpetuating the images of fear and negativity of our people. That is not to say that we should make excuses for them, absolutely not. But we should all step out of our comfort zone to learn why some of the tragedies which take place in our community occur and work towards inspiring those who we label as gangsters and thugs to become more because they are sons and daughters with gifts and talents which are truly unquantifiable.
Many of the clients I have encountered are some of the most amazing individuals in this world and they have remarkable stories. However, we are often defined by our choices and clearly so many of us are making choices which are leading us into the wilderness.
Very well said Marc Daniels! We have no room to judge another human being. At the end of the day, there is one person who knows our every move in life and we will all answer to him when that day comes. Until then, we as a people need to stop putting people down and work together to uplift this community and help those who need to be helped. The majority of people in jail have reasons why they have done bad in life, and although I am not making excuses for their actions, it all stems from something bad that has occurred to them at some point. Many young Bermudians grow up with alot of anger that isn’t dealt with during their childhood. They carry this anger through to adulthood, which leads to them seeking negative attention and becoming destructible. It starts from young. We must mold and guide our children to be productive members of society, love them, nurture them, instill life lessons in them and be a REAL parent to them. Children want to be loved and want to feel special. Parents, despite having to work multiple jobs in these times, you should ALWAYS find time to be a parent and give your child your undivided attention! Each one, teach one!
I am not judging him, but I am judging the Bermuda justice system. It has failed miserably in areas such as gun possession, harboring fugitives, rape, pedophilia,and assault. You can rest assure that anyone caught with drugs is sure to be punished for that but everything else is usually dropped or discharged.