A man accused of having in his possession an unlicensed gun and ammunition at a mining camp was on Friday remanded to prison after making his appearance before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
The allegation against Glaston James is that on July 3 at Matthews Ridge he had in his possession one 12-gauge shotgun and five 12-gauge 2cartridges without a licence.
The accused denied the charges when they were read to him by the acting Chief Magistrate.
In presenting the facts of the case, prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that on the day in question, the police were on patrol duty when they stopped and searched the mining camp occupied by the defendant.
According to Telford, the search which was conducted in the defendant’s presence unearthed the items.
The court heard from the prosecutor that the allegation was then put to the accused who admitted ownership of the items. He was subsequently arrested and charged.
The prosecution objected to the accused being granted his pre-trial liberty stating that there existed no special circumstances.
Attorney Adrian Thompson however argued for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail stating that there were special circumstances.
Thompson advanced the point of multiple-occupancy. He argued that the mining camp in which the items were allegedly found was at the time occupied by three other persons. He said too that his client does not own the gun nor was he the boss of the mining camp. He argued that it is the boss who has control of the camp.
Thompson in his address said also that it was ironic that the other persons with whom his client was arrested were merely taken into custody and released but the offence was pinned on his client.
In response to the lawyer’s submissions, Telford told the court that the accused in a statement to the police related that he was given the gun and ammunition by someone after which he hid same.
Thompson who also requested that the court make a note that his client was bound and beaten by the lawmen said that he [James] is of a “different literacy level” and knew not to what he was signing in the statement.
Telford who further stated that the gun was found under a piece of wood added that the defendant’s reputed wife had told the police in a statement that she and her husband live in the camp where the items were found.
Telford contended that the prosecution has evidence against the accused as it has established knowledge, control and possession against him.
After listening to the case, the magistrate informed the accused that he would be remanded to prison. His matter was transferred to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for August 3.
