Lucky Jamal
Freed: Jamal Hazel.
Freed: Jamal Hazel.

AFTER spending almost a year on remand a 21-year-old former Guyana Defence Force lance corporal on Friday walked out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court a free man after having a gun and ammunition charge against him dismissed .

Jamal Hazel, 22, of ‘A’ Field, Sophia, was charged for being in possession of an unlicensed .38 pistol along with nine matching rounds on January 13, at Middle Road,La Penitence, Georgetown.

Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman found that the prosecution failed to prove that Hazel had knowledge, control or possession of the firearm which are key elements of the charge.
These were brought to the court’s attention by defence counsel Ravindra Mohabir. Mohabir also told the court that his client was beaten and forced by the police to sign the caution statement.

The magistrate then ruled that there was insufficient evidence in the case and dismissed the charges against Hazel.

A few months ago, Hazel was also freed by Magistrate Latchman of three armed robbery charges when the victims refused to give evidence against him; he was also freed from similar charges at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

According to the facts of the case, on January 13, policemen acting on information went to a house at Middle Road, La Penitence and found the gun. Hazel, was not at home, but his aunt told the police that the firearm belonged to her nephew.

The lance corporal denied all of the charges while his then attorney George Thomas told the court that his client was on duty at Camp Stephenson, Timehri, when most of the robberies were perpetrated.

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