Gun-related charges – one farmer remanded, other on bail

TWO NORTH Rupununi cattle farmers on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan separately indicted on a series of firearm related charges. Eugene Joel, 72,of Yakarinta, North Rupununi,was charged for having a 12-gauge shotgun cartridge along with a matching spent shell in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. He was also charged for having a 20-guage shotgun spent shell.
The incident occurred on Thursday, January 19 at Toka Village, North Rupununi.
The man pleaded not guilty to all the charges while his lawyer, Jerome Khan, explained to the court that his client was a cattle farmer while the man’s son, Jackson Joel, was a licenced holder of a 12-gauge shotgun.
Khan further explained that his client was a holder of a firearm licence but his gun was damaged.
Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones,strongly opposed Joel being released on bail, citing the gravity of the charge and also the spent shells were recovered in the man’s home.
The Chief Magistrate released the elderly man on $100,000 bail and transferred the matter to the Lethem Magistrates’ Court for March 7. He also has to report at the Annai Police Station once a month.
Meanwhile, 33-year-old Randolph Andres was remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to a series of ammunition possession charges and also for having a shotgun when he was not a licensed holder.
Andres,of 3rd Avenue Bartica,denied that on January 19 at Toka Village,he had 20-gauge and 12-guage shotgun spent shells along with 20-gauge shotgun cartridges when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. He was also charged for having a 20-gauge shotgun in his possession.
Attorney,Jerome Khan,explained to the court that Joel and Andres looked after cattle in the North Rupununi area and were arrested by the police following a report from a Department Education Officer in the Annai Village.
According to Khan,his clients would supply meat for the Annai School feeding program. However,persons claimed that while preparing the meat,they discovered a gun pellet and reported the matter to the police.The police while conducting their investigations raided his clients’ home and arrested them.
Prosecutor Jones also strongly objected to Andres being released on bail because of the nature and gravity of the charge.
The Chief Magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Andres until February 3 when the matter will be recalled at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

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