37 year-old Owen Parham, the man who was shot by a special constable who he allegedly attempted to rob, dodged major jail time being added to his 5 year sentence today after he was acquitted of 4 out of 5 charges brought against him by that officer.
Special Constable James Stewart testified in his trial that on October 12, 2012, he was on patrol in the Lake Garden area of Ladyville. He says that he was surveying the area when he caught Parham attempting to break into one of the houses. The officer caught him peeping inside of one of the windows, and when he questioned Stewart, he said that he was looking for a nearby house.
When the officer searched him, he found a crowbar, and that's when the officer decided to detain him. Stewart said that while he was escorting Parham, the suspect suddenly turned around, punched him in his face, and tried to take away his gun. The officer says that in the struggle, he had to take that gun and shoot Parham in the leg 3 times.
In his defence, Parham testified that he wasn't trying to break into any house. He said that he was there in Lake Garden to sell weed to the Special Constable James Stewart, 9 pounds, to be exact. Parham told the court that when he went to collect the rest of his money, Stewart refused, and that's why they got into a scuffle. He says that's why Stewart shot him in the leg, not because he was resisting arrest.
It's an incredible story, and after considering all the evidence, Magistrate Herbert Panton told Stewart that his version of events is not credible. Nevertheless, he found Parham not guilty of all the offences, except resisting lawful arrested. He sentenced Parham to pay a fine of $500.
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