Miner found with shotgun, rifle charged

[www.inewsguyana.com] – A miner was remanded to prison on Monday, December 07, 2015 by Magistrate Ann Mclennan for the offense of the illegal possession of guns and ammunition without being the holder of a firearm license.

Thirty – two – year old Rocky Cumberbatch of 64 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on Friday, December 04 at Apika Landing, Middle Mazaruni River, he had in his possession one 12 gauge, single barrel shot gun and one Bushmaster rifle. He was also charged for the illegal possession of 26 live rounds of .22 ammunition.

His lawyer, Latchmi Rahamat argued that three persons were arrested in relation to the offence, one of them known as Philip Campbell. She stated that Campbell told the Police that Cumberbatch was innocent.

She stated that the guns and ammunition were not found in the presence of the accused and as such her client should not have been charged. Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones related that the accused is known to the Police as he has been charged for manslaughter in the past.

He said that acting on information received, the Police went to the premise occupied by the accused. The accused reportedly took the ranks to a trail behind the house where he removed a bag containing the items listed in the charge and he was arrested.

The Magistrate remanded the man to prison and transferred the matter to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for December 30.