A Kitty resident who reportedly had two guns, including an AK-47 rifle, and a large amount of ammunition in his possession when police raided his home, appeared yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on two charges and was remanded to prison.
Stanley Marks Vaughn, also known as Michael Marks Vaughn, of 181 Thomas Street, Kitty, pleaded not guilty to the charges of unlawful possession of a firearm without licence and unlawful possession of ammunition when they were read to him by Magistrate Hazel Octive Hamilton.
It is alleged that last Thursday Vaughn without lawful authority had in his possession one AK-47 rifle and one 9mm pistol without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Additionally it is alleged that on the same day, Vaughn had in his possession seventy-five 7.62x39mm rounds, nineteen 9mm rounds and two .38 rounds of ammunition.
Although police had reportedly unearthed other illicit items at Vaughn’s home during the search, he was only charged for the weapons yesterday. No indication was given in court whether he would face additional charges.
Vaughn was among 13 men arrested on Thursday after police conducted raids on 12 houses in the Kitty, Campbellville, North, South and West Ruimveldt areas.
Police had said in a release that they had recovered a number of illicit items during a search operation in Kitty.
A press release from police last Friday said that a search at a Thomas Street, Kitty house unearthed one AK-47 rifle with a magazine and 76 matching rounds, one 9 mm Luger pistol with a magazine and 16 matching rounds, two .38 rounds, one pair of camouflage pants, one camouflage shirt, two black toque masks, two ladies’ wigs, two Motorola hand-held communication sets, one air compressor, one hand-held blow torch and a quantity of medical supplies.
As the case was coming to an end, Vaughn asked the court for an early date adding that his lawyer was in the High Court.
He also made allegations that he was assaulted by police while he was in custody.
“Police beat me in my head and they never even took me to the hospital,” he told the court.
The magistrate then adjourned the matter to February 11 for trial.
