Rupununi father and son charged over guns, ammo

A father and son were yesterday arraigned in a city court on charges that they were found with unlicensed guns and ammunition at their South Central Rupununi home.

It is alleged that on April 23 at Nappi Village, Michael Patrick Secundino and his son, Ashael Secundino, had a single barrel shotgun as well as a .22 rifle in their possession.

It is also alleged that on the same day, they had two live 20-gauge shotgun cartridges and three live 16-gauge cartridges.

According to the prosecution, the guns and ammunition were discovered in the western part of their house after police conducted a search.

It was further related that when told of the discovery, the elder Secundino acknowledged the items to be his.

The unrepresented man yesterday initially told the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that his son had no knowledge of the guns being in the house and that he was just trying to protect himself from Venezuelan and Brazilian nationals who would come and take the village resources.

Michael Patrick Secundino subsequently pleaded not guilty to the charges and he was remanded to prison, while his son was granted $100,000 bail on each of the charges laid against him.

The matter was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for June 1st.