–and escape from lawful custody

SEVENTEEN-year-old Wendyson Thomas of Lethem, Region 9, appeared on Thursday before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore charged with possession of firearm, escape from lawful custody, and threatening behaviour towards his mother.Details of the charges are that: (a) On August 12 last, he made use of threatening behaviour to his mother Wendy Thomas at Karasabai, South Rupununi (b) On August 14 last, at Karasabai, he had in his possession one .25 pistol when he was not the holder of a firearm licence (c) On August 15 last, at Lethem Police Station, while being in custody for possession of a firearm, he escaped from the said custody.

The juvenile denied all three charges, and was placed on bail in the sum of $210,000.

Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant said that, on the day in question, the defendant and his mother had a misunderstanding and he behaved in a threatening manner towards his mother. She became fearful for her life and reported the matter to the police.

But according to his attorney, Mr. Jerome Khan, on the day in question, Thomas’s mother had sided with the defendant’s girlfriend over an argument he had with the girl, and the teenager felt that his mother should have taken his side, so he became annoyed.

Subsequently, his mother related the incident to the toshao (the chief/head of the village) and asked him to talk to her son. She also asked the toshao to explain the situation to the police and ask them to give her son a warning.

In regard to the firearm charge, the attorney said the defendant was at the police station and the police learned that an uncle of his has possession of a firearm and asked him to lead them to the house. A search was carried out on the premises, and the weapon — without ammunition – was found in a music box.

Counsel argued that on that basis if anyone is to be charged, it should be the owner of the property, who is the defendant’s mother.

As regards the escape from lawful custody charge, counsel detailed that Thomas had been locked up for 72 hours in excess of the stipulated time, and the police had taken him to the Lethem Police station, where they were debating whether to grant him station bail or not, and whom to charge for the firearm. Thomas had been sitting on a bench outside of the station, and not in the lock-up. Thomas then walked out of the police station compound and went to his mother’s home.

Counsel argued that if his client had intended to escape, he could have crossed the border and gone over to Brazil, since it is not far away. But instead he went to his mother’s home and took a shower, and moments later the police came and arrested him for escaping from police custody.

Counsel informed the court that his client has neither prior conviction nor pending charges, and that his client’s mother greatly regrets what she had done. He added that since it is a bailable offence, he is requesting that the Magistrate admit the youthful Thomas to bail in a reasonable sum, and not to make a criminal out of a 17-year-old who has learned his lesson.

However, the Prosecutor noted that a firearm without ammunition is still a firearm, and that the defendant had told his mother that he will kill her.

For the threatening behaviour charge, Thomas was placed on $10,000 bail; for escaping from lawful custody and the firearm charge, he was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 and $150,000 respectively.

Thomas is scheduled to make his next court appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on September 8.