Magistrate grants bail in gun, ammo case
MAGISTRATE Allan Wilson, yesterday, overruled a police objection and granted bail to a defendant charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Defence counsel Gordon Gilhuys made the successful  application and Richard Rambarran, 24, of Lot 10 Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara, was allowed pre-trial freedom on  $300,000 surety. Particulars of the offence said, on April 7, at Lethem, Rupununi, Rambarran was in possession of a 9mm pistol and seven matching rounds without licences.
Gilhuys argued that the law does not permit the long period of remand that Rambarran will have to be incarcerated for until the scheduled Lethem Court sitting on June 5.
He said he is sure that the police will not be ready to start then and Rambarran is entitled to a speedy trial.
Police Sergeant Gordon Mansfield, prosecuting, who had objected to bail, said the defendant had been involved in a fight when he drew the firearm and discharged shots in the air.
A report was made and the police arrested the shooter with the gun and ammunition in his possession.
The prosecutor assured the Court that the prosecution would be ready on June 5, but Gilhuys maintained that, many times, the police had failed to start cases due to the unavailability of exhibits, usually, in Georgetown, but the interior is no different.
Gilhuys said the police find it difficult to provide witnesses in firearms cases because there are only three ballistics experts in the country.
The prosecutor admitted that, indeed, there are about three such experts and they are, sometimes, overwhelmed with work.
Before granting pre-trial freedom to Rambarran, the magistrate told the prosecutor that, if the police were prepared to commence on June 5, he would never, again,  grant bail on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.