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Being a ‘bit player’ in gunpoint robbery earns man a year in prison

Dwayne Brangman (left) and Terrence Christopher (right) faced charges at Supreme Court in connection with an alleged arm home invasion. Brangman pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods. Mr Christopher pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary and using an imitation firearm. ( Photo by Glenn Tucker )

A 20-year-old who kept a video game console after waiting outside during a “horrendous” armed house invasion has been sentenced in the Supreme Court to a year in jail.Addressing Dwayne Curtis Brangman, who admitted to handling stolen goods taken from the attack, Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe said: “I only wish that the child victim is able to deal with what must be serious psychological effects.”He said the April 2 attack on the Devonshire home, in which a ten-year-old was present, “catapults this to the higher end of seriousness”.“A home invasion, especially one that involves a group of assailants, a firearm, a machete, threats of violence and a child, is one of the most frightening and horrendous experiences that the victims will ever encounter,” Justice Wolffe told Brangman, as the defendant’s mother looked on.The effects of the attack “will probably linger in their minds for many, many years”, he added.“It may be that the defendant did not know what exactly was going to happen. But he surely must have had some idea at the time it was happening and after it happened.”The court heard from Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess that the attack on the Middle Road home of Rhonda Wilkinson occurred while her ten-year-old son, 23-year-old daughter and 18-year-old cousin were also in the house.Brangman, of Cedar Park, Devonshire, waited in a car outside.The victims were said to have been threatened with a handgun and a machete while the premises were searched, and money, jewellery and a PlayStation unit taken.The court heard that the group then fled the scene in a car.A witness reported being taunted with the words “anyone who snitches is dead” — but all involved were later arrested, Ms Burgess said.The total value of the PlayStation and games was $540. Noting Brangman’s early guilty plea and cooperation with police, she requested a community-based sentence.Defence lawyer Leo Mills said Brangman had not been involved with the planning of the attack, but was “approached with the offer of getting the PlayStation 3”, which the others knew he was interested in acquiring.Brangman’s mother’s reaction upon learning of the crime had been “shock and surprise”, Mr Mills told the court.“Her son had not demonstrated any likelihood that he would be involved in something like this.”Justice Wolffe interjected: “It is safe to assume that her shock pales in comparison to that of the victims.”Conceding that the occupants of the home had “a terrifying experience”, Mr Mills said Brangman had been “a bit player rather than a major star” and “on the margins of what was going on”.Brangman has worked as a stable hand, and taken part in sports such as racing ponies, cricket with the Western Stars and football with the Dandy Town Hornets.He has participated in the Bermuda Regiment and the Mirrors programme, but “perhaps needs to redouble his efforts”, Mr Mills said.“During his four months in custody, he has had a chance to reflect very carefully on the fact that now he has a blemish on his record.”Dressed in a prison jumpsuit, Brangman rose next.“Your worship, I would just like to apologise to you, the court, my mother and my family,” he said.“I did make a mistake, and I am here to show that I made a mistake.”But Justice Wolffe said he was unmoved by the defendant’s remorse. After the crime, he said, Brangman had been “handed the fruits of their abysmal act”.“This takes him out of the category of the more innocent person caught up in the criminality.”He added: “The sad thing about this is here we have a young man who, rather than seek gratification on the sports fields, throws it all away for material possessions.”Saying he “strongly disagreed” with the suggestion of probation alone, Justice Wolffe sentenced Brangman to one year in custody — with time already served to be taken into account.Upon release, he will receive a further 18 months’ probation.A Supreme Court trial is expected in due course, for the group accused of the home invasion.