A Linden man, charged over an unlicensed gun and ammunition found his pants crotch during a stop and search in the interior, had every intention of handing them over to police, his lawyer told a court yesterday.
The charges against Oswald Europe are that on September 22, at Mousie Backdam, Essequibo, he had in his possession a .38 special revolver and 13 live matching rounds of .38 ammunition without licences.
Europe, of Lot 1898 Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
The prosecution’s case is that Europe was on a motorcycle proceeding from the Mousie Backdam to the Landing when he was stopped and searched by police, who discovered the illegal items on his person.
According to Prosecutor Jomo Nichols, the gun, which was loaded at the time with six live rounds, was found in Europe’s pants crotch, while another seven rounds were found in his pocket.
But defence attorney Gordon Gilhuys told the court that Europe had found the weapon and bullets and was going to hand them over to lawmen.
Gilhuys said that after being stopped by the police, Europe informed them that he had found the items and was on his way to the Mahdia Police Station to hand them over. The lawyer added that his client was making his way out of the backdam to the landing on a trail which has no police station or outpost and so he explained to the police that he would have taken the illegal items to the police station at Mahdia.
“He showed the police what he had found and told them of his intentions to lodge it at the station,” Gilhuys stressed, before adding that his client was being a public-spirited citizen.
Gilhuys asked the court for reasonable bail in these circumstances, while saying that Europe would return to court to stand trial as he is anxious to clear his name.
But Nichols objected to bail and challenged the lawyer’s claims, while noting that the gun and bullets were uncovered concealed in Europe’s pants crotch and pocket after a search was conducted on his person. Nichols added too that there is nothing in the statement given by the accused indicating that he had found the items and would have handed them over to police.
After hearing the submissions from both sides, Magistrate Azore informed the father of four that he would be remanded to prison until October 20, when his case will be called at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.
