Ricoldio Kyte, the 31-year-old interior shopkeeper who pleaded guilty to two charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition last week, was yesterday sentenced to one year in jail. The charges against the Festival City resident stated that on July 30th, 2019, at Melongy Landing, Cuyuni River, he had in his possession a 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun as well as two live 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, without being the holder of a firearm licence.
When asked by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus yesterday if he was maintaining his guilty plea, Kyte said yes. Attorney George Thomas, who represented Kyte, asked the court to consider a suspended sentence, while saying that his client would have only bought the firearm and ammunition after he was robbed due to the fact that police do not frequent the area. Prosecutor Adunni Inniss, after listening to the defence, requested that the minimum sentence be imposed due to the fact that Kyte did not waste the court’s time.
After listening to both sides, the magistrate sentenced Kyte to one year in jail. According to Prosecutor Inniss, on the day in question at around 11.15 am, police went to Kyte’s shop at Melongy Landing and conducted a search of the premises. They found the articles mentioned in the charges in his bedroom. He was told of the offences committed and cautioned, after which he admitted to ownership of the articles.
Explaining to the court on the last occasion why he had the firearm and ammunition in his possession, Kyte said, “After washing down on my father’s concession, two armed gunmen approached me and relieved me of the gold.”
After the alleged robbery occurred, he decided to get a firearm so that he could protect himself and “his potential interest.”
