Twenty-five-year-old Osborne Bummery appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with possession of ammunition without a licence.
It was alleged that on August 15, At Pike Street, North Sophia, Georgetown, he had in his possession three live rounds of 9 mm ammunition and one live round of .32 ammunition without being the holder of a valid firearm licence.
Attorney-at-law, Jevon Cox, who represented Bummery, told the magistrate that his client has no pending matters before the court and concerning the incident, stated that there was a street party where persons were shooting flares into the air. Regarding the ammunition allegedly found, he argued that it was not found on the person of his client, but rather on the ground as opposed to what was being said in court.
Cox also told the magistrate that his client was forced by police to sign a statement and that he (Bummery) was unaware of what he had signed as he did not went far in school. He added that his client had requested to have his mother read the paperwork but instead was threatened by police officers and therefore had no choice but to affix his signature.
The attorney also asked the magistrate to consider Bummery’s age, contending that if he is placed into custody it may not be the best environment for him and may cause him harm. However, the prosecutor objected to bail citing that on the night in question, police received information which led ranks to a party in Pike Street, North Sophia, where a search was conducted on various persons including Bummery and they discovered in his right hand the .32 ammunition and the three rounds of 9mm ammunition in his left.
Cox then told the magistrate that police have alleged to have CCTV footage which was never shown to his client.
Magistrate Singh then requested that the footage be presented in court, however she was informed by the police that they had no such footage.
Bummery was placed on $100,000 bail for each charge with the condition that he reports to the Alberttown CID department.
The matter was adjourned to September 13 for disclosure.
