EIGHTEEN-year-old Jeneil Howard, of Lot 322 Section ‘C’, Sophia, Greater Georgetown was refused bail when he appeared Thursday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer an allegation that he had discharged a loaded firearm at Jermaine Frank with intent to maim, disfigure, or caused Frank actual bodily harm on May 21 at Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Paul Fung-a-Fat, who requested that his client be admitted to bail in a reasonable sum, Howard pleaded not guilty to the offence for which he had been charged.

His attorney also said his client is a former student of the Dolphin Secondary School and was on the verge of enlisting in the Guyana Defence Force.

Mr Fung-a-Fat further said that Howard has never been in trouble, but one of his siblings had had a fight with Frank.

But Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said both men are known to each other; and on the day in question, Frank had purchased a food at a Chinese restaurant on Hadfield Street, which he placed on his car while opening the door. The defendant approached Frank and hit the food off his car; and in the ensuing altercation, each dealt the other kicks and cuffs about the body.

Howard ran away from the scene, and Frank was giving chase when he saw Howard making a call on his cellular phone; and suddenly a car pulled up, and someone from the vehicle handed Howard an object.

Upon receiving the object, Howard opened fire at Frank before making good his escape in the said vehicle.

The prosecutor successfully objected to bail on the grounds that two spent shells had been found and the two men’s familiarity with each other might cause Howard to tamper with the witness if he is granted bail.

The prosecutor also pointed out that commission of the alleged offence involved the use of a gun.

Bail was refused, and Howard was remanded to prison until June 13.

(By Geeta Rampersaud)