Gregory Tucker, on trial for the armed robbery of Butterfield Bank in St George’s, has been found unanimously not guilty by a jury.

Upon being freed yesterday afternoon, Mr Tucker, 24, placed his hands together and said “bless your heart” to judge Charles-Etta Simmons.

He chose not to speak with the press as he walked out of the building with loved ones and on to Court Street.

During a two-week trial at Supreme Court, prosecutor Nicole Smith said that the defendant threatened staff at the bank with an imitation Beretta pistol shortly after noon on June 9, before fleeing with a sum of cash.

While he admitted to spray-painting a toy gun black for someone he claims invited him to take part in the robbery, Mr Tucker said he did not believe the man was serious. He claimed to have spent the day of the robbery with his cousin, swimming near Fort St Catherine and then smoking cannabis on the rocks.

Police Constable Daniel Cole, of the armed response unit, had told the court he spoke to Mr Tucker close to the Royal Artillery Association Club on the afternoon of the robbery. PC Cole said he recognised the defendant from previous interactions and spoke to him “possibly” between 12.55pm and 1pm.

He said that Mr Tucker had been wet, was wearing “some sort of swimming trunks” and had been carrying a pair of camouflage shorts as well as a plastic cup.

Mr Tucker’s ex-girlfriend Faith Best had recalled her shock at finding rolls of cash in a box under the sofa of her Smith’s home, shortly after the robbery, despite his consistent claims that he had no money.

She also described finding a toy gun under the sofa and a can of black spray paint in her linen closet on separate occasions.

But defence lawyer Charles Richardson accused her of being dishonest, while Mr Tucker said that the money found by Ms Best “was the proceeds of selling marijuana and fixing mobile phones”.

It was revealed that, shortly after the robbery, Mr Tucker purchased items including a new Samsung mobile phone, Dolce & Gabbana designer sunglasses and a stay at Grotto Bay.

Also during the trial, the jury was shown videotaped interviews with Mr Tucker about the robbery. Asked if he had any contact with an imitation firearm, he said he had not.

However, in a subsequent interview, officers are heard informing him that his DNA was found on a piece of the fake weapon left at the scene by the culprit. Asked how this could have happened, he said: “I have one thing I have to tell you. I found a BB gun. I showed it to a couple of people. I met this guy through someone else who wanted to purchase the BB gun. I gave it to him for a joint.”

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