Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Shopkeeper, teenager jailed for illegal guns
JAILED: Orandel McCoy
A 34-year-old shopkeeper was jailed for two years for an illegal firearm that police found in his shop on October 13, last.
Appearing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Orandel McCoy, of Lot 16 William Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, was convicted for having a 9mm pistol in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
He was also found guilty of having 15 live rounds of 9mm ammunition in his possession on the same day.
The police, acting on information, went to McCoy‘s home, where he operates a shop. During a search of his shop, lawmen unearthed the firearm stashed in a cupboard. The items were recovered in McCoy’s presence. He told police that he alone has access to the shop.
In delivering her ruling, the Magistrate said that she did not believe the story told to the court by McCoy and his witnesses.
She said that she had no choice but to rely on the case of the prosecution which was presented by Police Lance Corporal Christopher Morris.
The convict was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on each charge and fined $50,000 respectively.
The prison terms will run concurrently.
Attorney Peter Hugh, who represented McCoy, gave oral notice of intentions of appealing the decision. In this regard, he requested for his client to be released on bail citing that he is confident that the appeal will be in his client’s favour since the court relied on statements given by police witnesses to convict his client.
In a plea of mitigation, the lawyer begged the Magistrate for leniency in her decision. He explained that his client has no pending matters or previous convictions before the court.
However, Prosecutor Morris was not in favour of the application. The Magistrate subsequently refused the bail application.
During the trial, Hugh had contended that anyone could have placed the gun in the cupboard because multiple persons have access to the shop.
According to Hugh, on the day in question, ranks from the Narcotics Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited McCoy’s premises and conducted a search, but found no narcotics. He said that the ranks found what appeared to be a pistol behind a cupboard.
In another case, Adam Mohamed, 17, of Lot 22 Calendar Street, Albouystown was also jailed for two years after being found guilty of having an illegal .22 pistol in his possession on March 12, 2015 at North East La Penitence, Georgetown.
The sentence was handed down by City Magistrate Annette Singh. The case of the prosecution was presented by Police Corporal Adunni Inniss.
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