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Ex-cop says, ‘I was going to lodge gun when arrested’
Ex-cop Tito Benons who is facing gun related charges told the court that at the time of his arrest, he was taking a gun he had found on Cemetery Road, Georgetown to the Brickdam Police Station to have it lodged.
Tito Benons
Benons told this to Magistrate Fabayo Azore, yesterday, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts’ when he was called on to lead a defence. The Magistrate had ruled that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against him.
The former Police Constable who said that he was attached to the Berbice Anti-Crime Unit, is accused of being in possession of an unlicensed Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, along with 15 rounds of live ammunition on March 26, last, at Norton Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown.
He was among four men on CG motorcycles that patrol ranks had stopped and searched.
He has since denied the allegations and is currently on remand.
During his sworn testimony, the defendant told the court that on the day in question; he and his cousins and friend were riding their motorcycles along Cemetery Road.
The defendant explained that at the time the traffic was congested so they were proceeding at a slow rate of speed.
According to Benons, he was the pillion rider on his friend’s bicycle and whilst riding he noticed a black object lying on the side of the road.
“I told my friend to stop. I came off of the motorcycle and walked about five meters backwards. I noticed that the black object appeared to be a firearm. I picked up the said firearm and showed it to my friend and told him that it is a real gun,” he said.
Benons added that he told his friend that they were going to take the weapon to the Brickdam Police Station to have it lodged but were intercepted by police while making their way there along Louisa Row, Georgetown.
The defendant related that none of them was wearing helmets at the time so he speculated that was the reason why they were stopped by police. Benons said that he came off the motorcycle and went to a policeman who later identified himself to him as Constable George.
He said that he also identified himself as a police officer to Constable George and told him that he had found a firearm.
However, Benons recalled that after he showed the firearm to Constable George he told him that he was a policeman.
“Boy you is not no police. I don’t want to hear that,” the defendant quoted Constable George. The defendant recounted that other officers who were a part of the patrol indicated to Constable George that he was a police officer, but he still did not believed.
The defendant added that he was subsequently placed in a police vehicle and escorted to the Brickdam Police Station Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where he was handed over to Sergeant Sarrabo. He added that he relayed his story to the Sergeant.
Benons concluded, “I was later informed that the firearm was a Smith and Wesson pistol with 15 matching rounds. I later gave a statement to which I signed my name.”
The prosecution is contending that Benons told traffic ranks who arrested him that the illegal firearm belonged to him and that it was for his protection.
This matter will be called again on Friday for Benons to be cross-examined by the prosecutor. After this, the Magistrate pointed out that she will gave another adjournment for him to have his witnesses testify.
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