Three men appeared yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Randolph Norton, Jamal Hazel, and Negus Lamaizon, were accused of having a .40 calibre pistol in their possession on October 23, at D’Urban Street, Lodge, without being the holders a firearm licence. They were also alleged to have been in possession of 13 rounds of .40 calibre ammunition and 41 rounds of 9mm ammunition on the same date, similarly unlicensed.
All three defendants entered not guilty pleas.
Defence attorney, Dominic Bess, informed the court that the police initially encountered the men outside Lamaizon’s home and requested that a search be carried out. Bess argued that no firearms or ammunition were found during this initial search. He further contended that it wasn’t until the defendants were brought to the East La Penitence Police Station that the authorities presented a firearm, claiming it had been found in the defendants’ vehicle.
Bess acknowledged his clients’ past legal issues but asserted that they all denied any knowledge of the firearm. The prosecutor, however, countered that the weapon was discovered inside the car owned by Lamaizon, with all defendants present. The prosecution claimed they had asked the men if they possessed a firearm licence, to which they reportedly replied that they did not. Due to the seriousness of the offence, the prosecution objected to bail.
After considering the arguments of both sides, the magistrate granted bail to Norton and Hazel set at $200,000 for each charge, while Lamaizon was remanded to prison.
