2 remanded on illegal gun, ammo charges

Two Georgetown men were last week remanded to prison after being jointly charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and matching rounds of ammunition.

Andra Stuart, 26, and Tyrone Arthur, 25, stood before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where they both pleaded not guilty to the offences. The charge alleges that on August 31, at Lot 84 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, the men were found with a Glock 9mm pistol and six live matching rounds without being holders of a firearm licence.
Attorney Ronald Bostwick in a bail application argued that the men were accused only of unlawful possession and not of using the weapon. He also told the court that police entered the premises without a warrant.
In the bail application, the lawyer said both men are labourers, have no passports, and are not flight risks. He urged the Magistrate to consider granting release under strict reporting conditions if necessary. The prosecution objected. The court heard that Arthur already has a similar matter pending and that the weapon in question had been linked to a previous charge against Stuart for discharging a loaded firearm. Investigators also reported that video evidence places both men in possession of the weapon, although they denied the allegation in recorded interviews.

Magistrate Latchman refused bail, citing the absence of special reasons and the prevalence of gun-related offences. The case has been adjourned to September 17.
Stuart is no stranger to the law. In May, he and Lidj Grant, 23, of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, were charged with discharging a firearm in public. They appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The incident occurred on May 20 at Plum Park, Sophia, where shots were fired during what police believe was an exchange of gunfire between suspects and victims. Both men pleaded not guilty. The prosecution noted that Stuart was already on bail for another serious charge and claimed there is video footage of the incident, with gun residue tests pending. Defence lawyers argued that both accused were actually victims who had been shot and that the available footage cannot clearly identify them. Magistrate Azore granted Grant $250,000 bail with reporting conditions but denied Stuart bail, citing his history of reoffending while on bail. He was later released from prison.