A MAN charged with stealing a gun was freed of the charge after his father, to whom the firearm belonged, offered no evidence. Christopher Da Silva (no address given) made his original appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded not guilty to the offence, particulars of which said it was committed on November 14, when he stole the 12-gauge shotgun, property of Lionel Da Silva.
Police Corporal Jairam Luckhai, prosecuting, said the virtual complainant had secured his bedroom, with the weapon inside and went out but when he returned and discovered it missing, he made a report.
The defendant told the court that he carried the gun to show some of his friends and one of them took it away.
The son said when he and his father, in company with a policeman, went to his friend’s home, he was not at home.
However the gun was retrieved while the defendant was in the lock-ups, the prosecutor said, making no objection to bail, which was fixed at $250,000, prior to the case being transferred to another court for fixture.
But when it was called before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell, the father said he did not want to testify and the case was dismissed.