After evading his trial on illegal gun and ammunition charges and being sentenced in absentia, OโNeil Melbourneโs luck ran out and he was nabbed by Police.
Police detained the 26-year-old La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) resident on Friday. He was sentenced to jail in absentia in 2016.
According to the Guyana Police Force, a Policeman stationed at the Kaikan Police Station in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) executed the arrest.
Melbourneโs previous encounter with law enforcement dates back to 2016 when he was apprehended at Arau Mountain, Region Seven. At that time, he faced charges of illegal possession of a 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun and three 12-gauge cartridges.
Arrested: OโNeil Melbourne
His initial plea of not guilty was made before Magistrate Leron Daly in a city court.
In a bail application, Melbourneโs legal representative had asserted his innocence, claiming that his client and another miner were traversing through the jungle area between camps when the latter handed him the shotgun upon spotting the Police.
Police Prosecutor Kevin London had highlighted Melbourneโs confession about acquiring the firearm from an acquaintance, referred to as one of his โsouljasโ under caution.
Subsequently, Magistrate Daly remanded Melbourne to prison, scheduling his return to court on September 5, 2016. The case was transferred to the then Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Some time before the commencement of the trial, Melbourne was granted bail but failed to return to court.
