Corentyne man remanded on firearm, ammo-possession charges

Walston Maxwell, a 58-year-old unemployed resident of Portuguese Quarters in Port Mourant Corentyne, Berbice,
was on Wednesday arraigned in the Georgetown court of Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty on charges of being in unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charges Maxwell faces accuse him of being in possession of a 9mm pistol, spent shells, and 11 rounds of live ammunition at a location between Leopold and Cross Streets in Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown on March 23, while he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
Pleading not guilty to both charges, Maxwell told the court that he was being framed. He denied having knowledge of any firearm, and told the court that he has a disability affecting his hands, making it impossible for him to hold a gun.
According to Maxwell, on the night of the incident, he was drinking with friends at a bar when police officers arrived. He claimed the officers, who were in civilian clothes, spoke to the group and he responded. Soon after, he was searched, detained with several others, and taken to a police station or an unfamiliar location.
The prosecutor, however, told the court that police officers had gone to the location in response to a call, and that a firearm and ammunition were discovered inside Maxwell’s pants crotch.
She said that when officers had approached Maxwell to conduct a search, he had responded, “Officer, don’t shoot! Look, I get a gun in front”.
Further, she told the court that the spent shells recovered from the area further link Maxwell to the alleged crime.
Maxwell was denied bail and remanded to prison. His case has been set for continuation on April 23.