EDWARD McCollen of Lot 67 South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge alleging that, on December 20 at Georgetown, he had in his possession a .22 revolver without being the holder of a firearm licence. The 27-year-old was also accused of having on his person 19 live rounds of .22 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.
The unrepresented accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, and requested to be granted bail, stating that he had been beaten by police officers and had not been shown any of the items allegedly found on his person.
He contended that he was at August Beverages on Princess Street, conversing with some females when police ranks tackled him from behind and knocked him on his head, which made him lose consciousness.
“I wake up in the lock-up with blood on my clothes, and the officers ain’t telling me nothing. Next thing ya know, they carry me in Campbellville Police Outpost,” McCollen alleged, as he also said he had suffered from a serious medical problem.
But the prosecution’s facts, narrated by Corporal Deniro Jones, alleged that ranks on mobile patrol saw the defendant at the beverage place with the gun, and he tried to chat with the females to divert the lawmen’s attention.
Jones said that when the officers approached McCollen, he told them he was a serving member of the Police Force, but the ranks confiscated the gun with the ammo in its chambers.
Jones contended that the accused was aggressive with the officers, causing them to use force, hence he was knocked unconscious.
He also noted that McCollen had previously been arraigned in Court Five on a similar charge.
McCollen was refused bail and was remanded to prison, while the matter was transferred before Magistrate Judy Latchman for January 18.