Two men were yesterday remanded to prison by magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton over the possession of a firearm and six live rounds of ammunition, not being the holders of valid licences.
Kenneth Singh, 21, of 38 Norton Street Lodge and Richard Craigen, 27, both pleaded not guilty to the charge. The .32 millennium pistol and ammunition were found in the middle compartment of a Wings taxi that Craigen was driving at the time. According to their attorney, Basil Williams, Craigen is a part time taxi driver who does not drive the same car all the time and was not aware of a gun being in the vehicle. Williams said that Singh was a passenger in the car at the time the weapon was found and as such he would not be checking compartments in a taxi he was riding in.
Police prosecutor Desiree Fowler opposed Williams’ application for bail citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. She said her instructions were that the weapon was found between the defendants in the front seat of the said car and there is a confession as it relates to Singh the number one defendant. To this Williams replied that there is nowhere in the law that seriousness and prevalence can serve as an objection to bail and further the defence denies the ‘claims’ of any confessions. Williams asked for a short adjournment for the “missing” statement to be “found.” However this and his application for bail were both denied. Both accused will return to court March 3.
