A man accused of having a firearm and a quantity of ammunition in his possession without licence was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry-Sewnarine at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The allegation is that on September 14 on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Earl Newenkirk of Blueberry Hill, Linden had in his possession one 9 mm pistol without being the holder of a firearm licence and 15 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, also without a licence. On the same day also, at his Blueberry Hill home, Newenkirk is alleged to have had 22 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and two magazines without licence.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him by the acting chief magistrate.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford in his address to the court said that on the day in question, the police were conducting a patrol on the highway when the minibus in which the defendant was travelling was pulled over.
As the bus was being searched, the prosecutor said, the accused was seen trying to tuck a black plastic bag under the seat of the vehicle and was subsequently searched by the police who uncovered the items mentioned in the charge.
After providing the lawmen with his address, Telford said that a search was conducted at the man’s residence where the magazine and other ammunition were found.
In his defence, Newenkirk told the magistrate that the police never took him to his home, neither was a search ever done nor was anything found in his presence.
He then said that he did not wish to say anything further as his lawyer was not present in court when the matter was being heard.
Telford then objected to the accused being admitted to bail. He was remanded to prison. His first two matters were transferred to the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court for September 21 and the others to the Providence Magistrate’s Court for October 1.
