Man fined, sentenced and remanded for shooting friend

Nov 24, 2009 News

A man who shot his friend in his head was fined $75,000 and jailed for three years each on the possession of firearm and possession of ammunition. He was also remanded for shooting his friend in the head.

The jail terms will run consecutively.

The prosecution had asked that the magistrate take into consideration the seriousness of the incident.

The man, Bharrat, of Turkeyen Squatting Area, had appeared before Magistrate Priya Beharry to answer three charges, two being possession of firearm and ammunition without license to do so and on an indictable charge of discharging a loaded firearm.

On November 20, last, on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Bharrat allegedly discharged a loaded firearm at Anthony Bacchus with intent to maim, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was not required to plead to this indictable charge.

On the same day, Bharrat had in his possession a twelve-gauge shotgun without being the holder of a firearm license. He was also found with two shotgun cartridges without being the holder of a firearm license. Bharrat who was unrepresented pleaded guilty to both possession charges.

Police Prosecutor Krishnadat Ramana explained that Bharrat and Bacchus were drinking together when an argument erupted between them. Bharrat pulled out a gun and pointed it at Bacchus who, in fear, attempted to find out Bharrat’s reason for doing so.

Ramana said that Bharrat in his rage shot Bacchus.

Police prosecutor Stephen Telford then intervened and added that Bacchus is still hospitalised at the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Bharrat is expected to appear at the Providence Magistrates’ court on December 28 on the shooting charge.