A St Catherine man who was acquitted of illegal gun and ammo possession might remain free on the count of double jeopardy, despite character evidence given by a witness who pretended to be a policeman.

Section 20 (8) of the Consti-tution might be used to block any attempt to retry the freed man.

Andrew Pinnock, 35, an ex-cop, has been charged with perjury and impersonating a policeman. He will appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court today.

Dismissed in 2008

Pinnock, an eight-year member of the force, had been dismissed in November 2008. However, on Monday last week, he gave evidence in court, allegedly in the capacity of a policeman, vouching for the character of a man on weapon charges.

He was picked up by investigators at his Frazer's Content, St Catherine, home last Friday. Formal charges were laid yesterday.

Pinnock is the second man to be charged this month for impersonating police personnel. Courtney Grayson, a 23-year-old from Hendon/ Norwood, St James, was arrested earlier this month after assigning himself to the Mount Salem Police Station for almost a year before being caught.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com