Unlicensed pistol, ammo lands man three-year jail term

Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton sentenced a man to three years jail and imposed a fine of $10,000 on him after he admitted that he had unlawful possession of a .32 pistol and five matching rounds.

The Georgetown Magistrate’s Court heard that on January 7, at Georgetown, Cobina Stephens had the pistol in his possession along with the matching rounds of ammunition although he was not the holder of a firearm licence at the time. He pleaded guilty after the charge was read to him. The prosecution told the court that on the said day, around 10pm, a police patrol on duty on Lombard Street observed Stephens acting suspiciously. Ranks stopped and searched him and the firearm and rounds were discovered tucked into the waistband of his pants.

After the magistrate asked the accused if he had anything to say in his defence, he told the court, “I am very foolish to carry a firearm.”