Inspector Carlton Charles on Friday testified that the ammunition that was found in a green and black canvas-like bag under a wardrobe in Oliver Hinckson’s room and a pistol found in another room could have been put there by any one of the military officers who was on the joint operation.
Inspector Charles, who was on the witness stand for the second time, was being cross-examined by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys during the continuation of the trial into the gun and ammunition case against Hinckson, a former Guyana Defence Force Lieutenant.
Another ex-soldier, James Gibson, was charged jointly with Hinckson but after his disappearance late last year and the subsequent issuing of an arrest warrant by the magistrate, a decision was made to have the matter proceed ex-parte earlier this year.
Before being cross-examined Charles testified while being led in his evidence-in-chief by police prosecutor Robert Tyndall, that while searching he was informed by one of his colleagues that a .380 revolver and a magazine with twelve rounds were found in Gibson’s room.
He said that when he went to the room, he saw the items on the bed and Gibson was standing outside. Charles told the court that he then asked both defendants whether they were licensed to carry a firearm. They both answered in the negative and they were told of the offences, he said, adding that while being cautioned separately they both remained silent.
According to the Inspector, the search was then directed to Hinckson’s room and under a wardrobe, a green and black bag, made of a canvas-like material, was found.
The two, he said, were later arrested and taken to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary along with the firearm and ammunition, which were later marked and sent to the ballistics section for examination.
During cross-examination, the rank testified that he was a part of a military operation headed by Major Best which he believed came at a time when the country was in a state of emergency.
“I think that it was the president who declared a state of emergency at the time of this investigation,” Charles testified, adding that he was called to give military service to the GDF by the Chief of Staff.
Further Charles under cross-examination testified he was not a military officer and at no time was he appointed as a supernumerary officer in the GDF or any other military organisation.
He said that when he got to the location he was under the impression that they were in search of the enemy but he did not have a description.
Charles testified that he did not know who the owner of the three-bedroom house was or if it had been leased to anyone and still does not have that information today.
In testifying about the ammunition found under Hinckson’s wardrobe, the Inspector said that when he entered the room the bag was not immediately visible and at the time of the discovery Major Best and four or five officers from the GDF were present.
He said that he was present during the searches in all three rooms but could not recall seeing Major Best in all of them.
Charles said that he could only remember beds being in two of them but did not check for clothing although he saw footwear on the premises.
He said he could not recall seeing any undergarments or clothing scattered anywhere on the premises.
According to the Inspector, during the search the military personnel had pistols and automatic weapons but could not recall which officer carried what.
“I agree that more than one could have been carrying a Jennings .380… It is possible for any officer to have placed a .380 anywhere on that premises,” he said, adding that members of the military also had ammunition in their possession but he was unaware of the type.
He said too that some of the military officers on that day were in military fatigues which were green and black in colour and some carried pouches of that same colour and appeared to be made of a canvas-type material.
“It is possible that any military officer could have placed a green and black bag in the premises without my knowledge,” he said, adding that as far as he was aware there was no inspection of the weapons that the officers had immediately after the operation.
Hinckson and Gibson were jointly charged with having a .38 pistol, 12 .38 rounds and 26 12-gauge shotgun cartridges on June 6, 2006 at Lot 115 Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt.
The two had made their first appearance in court on June 12, 2006 and were subsequently released on $75,000 bail each. They denied the allegations that were made against them. Two months before they were caught, the army issued wanted bulletins for them, following the disappearance of 30 AK-47 rifles and five pistols from GDF headquarters. They were then out of sight until police acting on a tip-off swooped on the South Ruimveldt house around 2 pm on June 6. During the search of the premises, the illegal items were reportedly found. The two men were taken to army headquarters before being handed over to police. The trial began last year August with the testimony of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) rank Cleveland Browne but it was stalled by the failure of the police witnesses to attend court and then the non-appearance of Gibson.
Following Browne, Inspector Charles took the stand.
The matter will continue next Thursday.
