-Andrew McDonald pleads not guilty, remanded
ANDREW McDonald of Lot 11, Triumph East Coast Demerara and Joel Joseph, 22 of Lot 3 Dyrado Road, Bartica, yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on charges of conspiring to commit a robbery under arms, unlawful possession of firearm and unlawful possession of ammunitions.

McDonald pleaded not guilty to all three charges, but Joseph pleaded guilty to all three charges.
Particulars of the offence said, between Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 of April at Buck hall, Essequibo River, they conspired with others to commit a felony of robbery under arms.
It was further alleged that, on Tuesday April 16 they had in their possession an unlicensed AK-47 rifle.
It was also alleged that on the same day, they had in their possession 12 live rounds of ammunition that is to say 7.62 times 39.
Police Sergeant Seon Blackman, prosecuting, stated that the defendants are known to each other and on the day in question ranks from the Guyana Police Force were on patrol duty at Buck Hall trail. About 22:00 hrs a lorry (GRR 1307) which had several other occupants was stopped and a search conducted. It was found that the defendants had in their possession a bag containing the AK-47 rifle and 12 live rounds of ammunition. Further investigations revealed, that the defendants were planning to commit a robbery at mining camps in the interior.
Joseph told the court that he was under pressure and interrogation that caused him to have McDonald as his partner.” It was my bag; I found the rifle and everything that the bag contained. Everyone else in the truck was innocent mistress,” Joseph said.
Prosecutor Blackman objected to bail on the grounds of the serious nature of the offence and the punishment it attracts and argued that if the defendant is placed on bail he may not attend court.
Joseph was sentenced to four years on each charge but they are to run concurrently.  Meanwhile, bail was refused for McDonald, and he was remanded to prison.
The case has been transferred to Wakenaam Magistrate Court scheduled for April 24.