Shopkeeper Jamie Myers was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment yesterday after being found guilty of having an unlicensed semi-automatic handgun.
Magistrate Judy Latchman handed down the sentence as well as a $60,000 fine after finding Myers guilty of a charge of having the weapon in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Myers, 28, of Lot 1 Yarrow Dam, East Ruimveldt, made his initial appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on July 11 and pleaded not guilty to the charge. His lawyer at the time, attorney Paul Fung–a–Fat, said that the firearm was found inside of an umbrella in Myers’ yard and not in his possession.
However, prosecutor Renetta Bentham stated that the firearm was found in Myers’ pants pocket. On July 25, during the commencement of Myers’ trial, Police Constable Godfrey McGarrell testified that a search was conducted on Myers and that the hand gun was indeed found in his pants pocket.
This led to an outburst by Myers, who shouted at the police officer as he was being escorted out of court. “Ya pick up the thing on the ground and you said you find it in me pocket bai. You is a liar for a uniformed man!” he had said.
