A 27-year-old woman was yesterday charged with having an AK-47 rifle in her home at Church Street and was refused bail by Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.
Stacy Ann Barron of 190 ‘B’ Church Street, Cum-mingsburg pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on March 14 at her home, Barron had in her possession one AK-47 rifle without being the holder of a firearm licence. During a cordon and search exercise at the house last week, joint services ranks found a butt-less AK-47 rifle and arrested five persons.
A press release from the police had said that based on information received the ranks mounted an operation at approximately 2 pm at a two-storey building located at 190 ‘B’ Church Street, Cumming-sburg. It said the search unearthed the rifle, which had part of its butt sawn off, in the upper flat of the building. Ranks had lined Church Street from the Camp Street junction and on the other side at the junction of Waterloo Street. No alleyway in the adjoining areas was left unattended during the search.
Attorney-at-law Mishka Puran who represented Barron said her client is a mother of three and the alleged weapon was found on top of a wardrobe, which is more than six feet high and out of her sight. Glasgow, she said, is a trader in clothes who lives with a roommate. Puran said the roommate would have several gentlemen over when her client is not around. She said when the search was carried out, Barron was not there and the police had to break open the door to get in. She said other persons were also arrested but were not charged.
Police Prosecutor Desiree Fowler asked that bail be refused on the grounds of seriousness and prevalence of the offence. She added that there are too many unlicensed weapons on the streets of Guyana. The prosecutor said Barron is the lone occupant of the room which she is paying rent for and has a key to it.
Puran responded that her client went into custody voluntarily. However, bail was still refused and Barron’s case was transferred to court three for April 5.
