A man who unlawfully had a firearm and a quantity of ammunition in his possession on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway was yesterday sentenced to six years imprisonment when he appeared before Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Balram Bharrat accepted that on November 20 on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, he had in his possession one 12-gauge shotgun without being the holder of a firearm licence.
He also accepted that on the same day, he had in his possession two live rounds of shotgun cartridges without a licence.
Bharrat was charged with discharging a loaded firearm on November 20 on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway at Anthony Bacchus with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to the said Anthony Bacchus.
The defendant was not required to plead to the indictable charge of discharging a loaded firearm when it was read to him by the magistrate.
The prosecutor told the court that on the day in question Bharrat and the VC were drinking when an argument erupted between them. According to the prosecutor, the quarrel escalated and Bacchus was shot in his head by Bharrat.
The prosecutor said Bacchus was still a patient in an unconscious state in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Considering the serious nature of the injury to Bacchus, the prosecutor made an application for the defendant to be remanded to prison.
Bharrat, who was initially told that he was sentenced to three years imprisonment, was visibly shocked to learn that the sentence was on each count and would not be served concurrently.
The magistrate clarified that the three-year sentences will run consecutively. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $75,000.
Additionally, he was remanded to prison on the indictable charge of discharging the loaded firearm and will make the next court appearance on December 28 at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
As he was being escorted from the courtroom, Bharrat kept shaking his head in disbelief.
wow, 6 years for that!!!
Only 6 years, that is attempted murder he shot the man in the head.
The man could have died. Did you read the whole article?
He is lucky to get only 6 years, 16 years would have been better.
What is wrong with you people?
61 years.Case close.
Government should announce a GUN BUY BACK PROGRAM with prices for guns ranging from $50US to $100US. No questions asked!
Why would they give their guns up for $50 when they can rob me and you millions.
Would someone do an expose on how many gun permits the PPP approved since 1992?
lol
alcohol cause this man to suffer injuries…and the weapon was illegal…go relax and when he get out i hope he turn a blind eye on the devils tonic…
The rum bottle should be in the dock
he needs to say where he got it from ….fronsic report will tell of it’s activities…
He should’ve got 20yrs, these are the people who needs to be off the streets.
He aint get away yet. He still has 20 to life hanging over his head for shooting Bacchus, and he still has to pray that Bacchus lives.
Amenra,
Stop this please….20 years. This prison term is not for attempted murder, it’s for illegal Gun and amunition possession. Six years still seems step to me. Image you can have a ship load of cocaine in Guyana and only get 3 years but if find with an illegal fire arm you get 6yrs. Three years shoud be the maxium sentence for illegal possession of fire arm. Secondly why was the judge so harsh on this man? ….what happened to all them criminals and people that get stop with illegal weapons at the road blocks and what about Roger Khan with his high power rifle, spy equipment, ammunition and armour vehicle all of which was illegal. How many years did he get…oh i forgot he was fighting crime…no killing black youths. I think this man should have gotten 18month as a first offender, for the illegal weapon. Any added time should come at the end of his attempted murder trail.
An
swift justice thats a good sign
I agree with Comrade SandHurst – its too stiff a penalty when convicted killers get the same sentence!!!
correct…i dont know is wuh going on in the country.
I wonder how many people got killed by that weapon
Poor Bacchus all through some stupid argument,you could of lost your life. and as for Mr Bharrat, You needs twelve months Jail ..with twelve strokes of the cat o nine tails. Six going in and six coming out…if you like to give pain you must be made to feel pain. and I am sure that you will be a much better person as a result.