1 to lead defence, 2 freed in illegal gun, ammo, robbery case

Two men walked free while the third suspect was ordered by Magistrate Rondel Weever to lead his defence into a series of charges that were brought against them for possession of illegal firearm and ammunition, along with robbery.

Casey Chapman
Freed: Adam McDonald
Freed: Sheldon Andrews

Casey Chapman, 27, a taxi driver of Lot 77 South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, 24-year-old Sheldon Andrews, also a taxi driver, of Lot 306 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown and 30-year-old Adam McDonald, a block maker of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), were arrested in November 2018 after allegedly trailing a businesswoman from the Eugene F Correia International Airport and robbing her of a package before shooting at her vehicle.
Andrews and McDonald walked out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts as free men, after the Magistrate ruled that insufficient evidence was led against them by the prosecution.
Chapman was then informed by Magistrate Weever that he will have to lead a defence in the matter on June 26.
When the matter was called by the magistrate, she informed Andrews and McDonald that based on the evidence provided by the witnesses, they were not in the vehicle when Police arrived at the scene. However, she stated that the victim positively identified Chapman as the person who robbed her.
The allegation against the three men stated that on November 26, 2018, at High and Princes Streets, Georgetown, while being in the company of each other, they had in their possession one .32 Taurus pistol without being holders of firearm licenses.
The second charge stated that on the same day and at the same location, the men had in their possession one 9mm Glock pistol without being holders of firearm licenses.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, they had in their possession 12 live rounds of 9mm ammunition without being holders of firearm licenses.
The last charge against the men stated that on the same day and at the same location, they had in their possession seven .32 ammunition when they were not licensed firearm holders.
It was further alleged that Chapman on July 5, 2017, at Grove Access Road, East Bank Demerara, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, robbed Marcia Maria Martin of a cellular phone worth $70,000, four ounces of raw gold worth $600,000, $700,000 cash and other articles totalling $1.4 million.
The three men denied the allegations on their first court appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
According to the prosecution’s case on November 26, 2018, Police received information that three men were in a vehicle trailing a businesswoman from the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, and as a result, roadblocks were set up.
The prosecution is contending that Police ranks from the Ruimveldt Police Station were on the lookout at High and Princes Streets, Georgetown, when they observed three men sitting in a vehicle and acting suspiciously. The ranks then approached the vehicle where they identified themselves. A search was conducted in the vehicle and they found the articles mentioned in the charges. The men were all arrested and taken into custody.
The prosecutor told the court that an identification parade was held and Chapman was positively identified by the victim.