A US lawyer was cleared of firearms importation by the unanimous verdict of a jury this morning.

Gary Barket, from Little Rock, Arkansas, greeted the news by telling The Royal Gazette: “I’m very gratified and humbled that reason and justice prevailed.”

He had faced ten years behind bars if he had been convicted over the incident at Bermuda Airport on January 25.

A revolver, a pistol and four bullets were found in a garment bag that he brought into Bermuda from the States three days before — when it was X-rayed at the Airport before he flew home.

Mr. Barket, 61, was arrested and has been in Bermuda on bail for the last six months awaiting trial. He claimed, during emotional testimony yesterday, that it was all a terrible mistake.

Both he and his wife Terry told the jury that he had hidden the guns — which belonged to her late father — in the garment bag for safekeeping some three months before. They then completely forgot about them.

Mr. Barket told the court the first time he remembered they were in the bag was when the Airport X-ray machine picked them up, and he almost fainted with shock.

This morning, lawyers told the jury that the key question was whether the defendant knew the guns were in the bag at the time they were brought into Bermuda. If they were not sure that he knew, said defence lawyer Saul Froomkin Qc, then they must clear him.

In an unusual move, Chief Justice Richard Ground told the eight women and four men of the jury that they could deliver a verdict of acquittal before they even heard him “sum up” the case, as long as it was unanimous.

They took up his offer — clearing Mr. Barket just after 11.15 a.m. to whoops and tears of joy from his family in the courtroom.

For the full story, pictures and an exclusive interview with Mr. Barket and his family, see tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette.

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