The mayorof Little Rock, Arkansas, Mark Stodola, leaves Supreme Court #3 yesterday after telling a jury that accused lawyer Gary Barket - a friend of 30+ years - has an "exemplary reputation in terms of ethics and honesty". Photo Akil Simmons

US officials have paid glowing testimony to the character of an Arkansas lawyer facing ten years in jail if convicted of firearms importation.

Gary Barket is on trial at the Supreme Court accused of bringing a revolver, a semi-automatic pistol and four bullets into Bermuda, something he claims was an innocent mistake.

Among the witnesses called by the defence to pay tribute to his good character yesterday were a former Arkansas Supreme Court judge, a Democratic party superdelegate and Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas Mark Stodola.

Mr. Stodola told the jury he had known the accused since 1976, describing him as someone with an "untarnished, exemplary reputation in terms of ethics and honesty".

Barket, 61, travelled to Bermuda from Arkansas via Newark in New Jersey with the 0.32 mm calibre revolver, 6.35 mm calibre semi-automatic pistol and bullets in a garment bag.

They were detected by an X-ray machine at L.F Frederick Wade Airport as he prepared to leave Bermuda on January 25 with the bag checked into the plane's hold.

Barket has pleaded not guilty to importation charges under the Firearms Act which carry a mandatory minimum prison term of ten years upon conviction.

He has told the court he packed the guns, which belonged to his late father-in-law, in the bag for safekeeping months before.

He then forgot they were in there until they were discovered at the airport.

The jury heard from Police firearms expert John Kirkpatrick on Monday that the revolver was found unloaded, and the pistol did not have a magazine which is necessary for it to be fired.

In evidence yesterday, Mr. Stodola explained that he is an attorney and former legal counsel to the Little Rock National Airport Commission.

He told the jury that US federal regulations permit unloaded firearms to be carried in luggage in an aircraft hold, in a secure case. They are forbidden in carry-on luggage.

Quizzed by defence lawyer Saul Froomkin QC about whether it matters if one is on a domestic or international flight, Mr. Stodola replied: "It does not. That's one of the things I find most surprising about this situation Mr. Barket finds himself in.

"There's not an advisory or directive on local or international flights as to what the laws in another country might be as to the legality of possessing a weapon. As a prosecutor for many years, I've had many of these kind of cases."

He went on to say of Barket: "It's shocking to me that he can be found in this type of situation where he might be facing a mandatory minimum of ten years."

The next character witness, Lottie Shackelford, is currently a superdelegate for the Democrats and was the first female Mayor of Arkansas where she served from 1987 to 1990.

Former US president Bill Clinton appointed her a US delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women in Austria, and also to the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

Ms Shackelford has known the defendant since the early 1980s, and said: "Mr. Barket is a very good, upstanding citizen for the city of Little Rock.

"He's the sort of person interested in the growth and development of our city — the sort of person you could go to when you needed help and support with community affairs."

Next to give a character reference was Judge Richard Mays, a former justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and a former state legislator. He is currently a senior partner in an Arkansas law firm.

He has known Barket since the early 1970s, and said: "He has the highest reputation for integrity and competence and professionalism in the community.

"He's one of the few persons who has been able to keep the same basic charm and grace with which he started out in the profession."

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