A hunting trip took a turn for the worst for two friends when one of them accidentally shot the other, a city court heard yesterday.
It is alleged that on November 14, at South Pakaraima River, with intent to murder, Barrington Cipriani, 22, a farmer of Karasabai, wounded James Salvadore John.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is the police’s case that Cipriani and John left to hunt and the accused subsequently borrowed a gun from John and shot him. The matter was reported and Cipriani fled to Brazil, police say. He returned sometime after and was subsequently arrested.
However, Cipriani’s lawyer told the court that the shooting was accidental. He said there was no alcohol or any sort of hostility involved.
During the hunting trip, he said, John gave Cipriani the gun to keep while a pathway for hunting was prepared. However, the gun accidently went off, with one bullet hitting John. He was taken to the hospital immediately with the assistance of Cipriani and was later discharged. He emphasised that it was not a deliberate attempt on John’s life but rather an accident and Cipriani assisted in rendering medical assistance to the wounded man.
The lawyer asked for reasonable bail to be granted, while noting that his client was not a flight risk and was well known to the police and his community. The attorney added that the accused was once a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and had asked for a discharge.
The prosecution, however, objected to bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that a gun was used in the crime. In addition, the court was told that the accused fled after the incident and it was likely he would not return for his trial if released on bail.
After hearing submissions from both sides, the magistrate refused bail and the matter was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for March 2nd.
