Woman jailed for illegal gun

Jul 05, 2014 News

…wanted protection from obsessed lover

A 20-year-old interior worker, who said that she kept a gun to protect herself from an obsessive lover, was yesterday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on illegal gun and ammunition charges.

Cindy Robertson

Cindy Robertson was given the jail term by presiding Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Reports are that police ranks on patrol in Albouystown, Georgetown, busted the young woman with a .32 revolver and six live rounds of matching ammunition on Monday.
When asked to produce a licence, she was unable to, so she was taken into police custody and charged for unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.
Exactly four days after the bust, Robertson was taken before the courts to answer to the charge. She pleaded guilty and told the Magistrate that she understood that the crime carried a mandatory prison term.
Corporal Bharat Mangru, the prosecutor, explained that it was about 20:30 hours on Monday that the police set up a roadblock on James Street, Albouystown. He said that the ranks searched the vehicle in which were Robertson and three other occupants.
“A search was conducted on her brown shoulder bag and the police ranks found the firearm and ammunition mentioned, in the charge.”
According to the Prosecution, Robertson was told of the offence, cautioned and she admitted stating that she had bought it from “the bush.” Further investigations led to her being charged.
Attorney at Law Glenn Hanoman, who was present in court asked to appear amicus curae on the young woman’s behalf.
“Looking at her who is unrepresented, she is 20 your worship; that’s very young. I have a funny feeling that she may have been encouraged to plead guilty. I feel a way seeing her, so I’m asking the court for a chance to speak to her.”
His request was granted moments before the woman told the Magistrate “I bought it from Maraka Backdam. It is mine.”
The matter was put down for a few minutes as the attorney conversed with the young woman.
Hanoman returned stating that there are special reasons he would like to submit on behalf of the accused. He said that Robertson had a troubled past and had found herself in a vulnerable place.
The lawyer explained that she did not have a relationship with her parents and had been left “on her own devices from a very tender age.”
“Whilst working in the interior, one of the gold miners fell in love with her to such an extent that he started stalking her and there were even instances of attempted rape. He became obsessed with her. This is why she travelled out of the interior and had the gun.”
“She is vulnerable. Look at her. She is unable to physically defend herself. She is a young person left out in the wilderness: both literally and figuratively.”
Hanoman said that, if the law allowed, he would ask the court to consider those special circumstances but if not, he asked that the minimum penalty be given.
“Your worship, I understand that she is charged for both firearm and ammunition, but I ask that whatever the penalty, that it runs concurrently.”
He said that as a matter of fact, she had no support group out there so no one would have been there to post bail for the young woman.
“She is one of those cases where society has not been kind but the court has a chance to change her.” He lamented, however, that asking for a probation report in her case would make no sense.
Responding, the Magistrate sentenced Robertson to two years’ imprisonment on each charge. The sentences are set to run concurrently.

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