Dexter Hopkinson, who was on October 3, charged with illegal possession of a 9 mm Kel-Tec rifle and 10 matching rounds, is now a free man.
Magistrate Judy Latchman, found it impossible to convict Hopkinson, a minibus conductor, stating that the court was uncertain whether he was in possession of the weapon.
She said the other occupants of the car should have also been brought in by police for questioning and added that in the absence of statements from the occupants of the car, including the driver, the court was not sure that Hopkinson was in possession of the haversack in which the weapon was found.
Magistrate Latchman added that she found it quite incredible that Hopkinson would hold onto the haversack after seeing a police road block ahead when he could have easily dropped it and denied ownership.
During his initial arraignment, Hopkinson of Sophia, pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt had objected to bail stating that Hopkinson had an ongoing matter of a similar nature in which a firearm was used.
This rifle was initially suspected to have been used in the execution of Essequibo businesswoman Shelliza Basir-Lall but police ballistics tests later proved otherwise.
