A 20-year-old man who admitted to having an unlicensed firearm and a quantity of ammunition in his possession was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
On March 3 at Essequibo, Francis Andrews had in his possession one 20-gauge shotgun without licence. On the same day also, without licence, the defendant had in his possession three 20-gauge cartridges.
When asked by the magistrate if he was guilty or not, the porkknocker responded by explaining that the items were not his and they were given to him by a Brazilian miner with whom he works.
When the magistrate further enquired from the man if he had possession of the unlicensed items and if they were in his care and control, he responded in the affirmative.
Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey in presenting the prosecution’s facts said that on the day in question, police acting on certain information went to the defendant’s camp where the weapon and ammunition were found on his person.
The sergeant said that the ammunition was found in the man’s pants pocket.
According to Harvey, the police then enquired from the defendant whether he was licensed to have the items mentioned in the charge and he stated that he was not. He was later arrested and charged.
When asked for a third time by the magistrate if he was guilty or not and whether he had accepted the facts presented by the prosecution, Andrews said, “yes I am guilty.”
Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry then enquired from the defendant if he knew that having pleaded guilty he will be handed down a mandatory period of imprisonment and asked him if he then wished to charge his plea.
Andrews, however, indicated to the court that he was guilty.
He was later handed down the three-year prison sentence and ordered to pay a $75,000 fine.
