Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Jamaican Immigrant Gets 17 Months In Jail For Pointing Gun At LDS Missionaries In Gloucester, United Kingdom

On March 28th, 2013, a British man who is an immigrant from Jamaica was sentenced to 17 months in jail for pointing a gun at two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who visited his home in Gloucester in the United Kingdom.

The incident occurred on December 19th, 2012. Elders Paulus Chardon and Cameron Kramer knocked on the door of Donald Ewers, looking for a man named Roger. The missionaries offered Ewers a Book of Mormon and engaged him in conversation. Suddenly, Ewers started rummaging under his duvet and produced a BB handgun, then reportedly said “Don’t mess about. I have a gun. I’ll fucking kill you.” [Ed. Note: I do not blanket out bad words when I'm quoting someone direct.] But the missionaries retained their poise, discussing Olympic champion Usain Bolt and Jamaica with Ewers and assuring him they came in peace; once they got Ewers calmed down, they left. Police were notified; upon searching Ewers' home, they found the BB handgun, giving them probable cause for an arrest.

Donald Ewers, a Jamaican immigrant who has sired 17 children ranging in age from seven months to 32 years, was reluctant to take responsibility for his actions. First, he claimed he was provoked by so-called "racism" from the missionaries. Then in court, his attorney tried to blame it on alcohol. The judge was not impressed with either excuse, and dished Ewers up a 17-month sentence.

Elder Chardon has a mission site which reveals he was called to serve in the England Birmingham Mission on June 7th, 2012. He is a native of the Netherlands. In January 2013, Elder Chardon gained a new companion as Elder Kramer was transferred to another district. Elder Kramer is said to be from Utah. This letter from Elder Chardon, after being Google-translated, implies Elder Chardon may have found Elder Kramer challenging to deal with. A subsequent letter revealed that Elder Chardon was frustrated with Elder Kramer because Kramer didn't like to get out and proselyte as much as Chardon. Subsequent communications indicate they parted amicably.

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