Sophia man awaits sentencing for carrying illegal firearm

Twenty-seven-year-old Akeem Bristol, who is accused of having an illegal firearm, is now awaiting sentencing after admitting to the charge.
At his arraignment before Magistrate Rhondell Weever at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Bristol, a father of one of North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, pleaded guilty to having one Uzi semi-automatic machine gun, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
His guilty plea was accepted by the sitting Magistrate, who then remanded him to prison until his sentencing on December 18, 2023.
The Magistrate’s wish to view Bristol’s alleged videotaped confession to the crime, as claimed by the Police, led to Bristol’s sentencing being deferred. This defendant had no legal representation.
On the day in question, December 7, at approximately 00:40h, ranks from the Turkeyen Police Station were on patrol in North Sophia when they noticed Bristol pedalling a bicycle through a cross street with a cart attached, a report from Police Headquarters said.
Upon seeing the lawmen, Bristol hopped off the cycle and attempted to run, but due to the quick response by the ranks, they were able to apprehend him. The ranks searched Bristol but found nothing illegal on him.
They then searched the cart on his cycle and found a black plastic bag containing one Uzi semi-automatic machine gun, with an empty magazine, a Guyana Identification card and a Citizens Bank card, both in favour of Bristol.
Bristol replied “No”, when the ranks asked if he had a firearm licence. He was told of the offence committed and cautioned, after which he said: “Sir, I find it in a trench on Sophia Road”.
He was arrested and escorted to the Alberttown Police Station where the firearm was examined and no serial number was found on the frame. The firearm was lodged and is to be taken to the ballistics section for examination.
At Monday’s court proceedings, Bristol pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge.
He told Magistrate Weever that while cleaning a drain, he found the gun in a bag.
He continued by saying that the Policewoman refused to accept his complaint when he attempted to turn in the gun at the station. Bristol claimed that when he was stopped by Police ranks on his way home from the Police station, he told them, “I got something illegal to turn in.”
According to the Police prosecutor, Bristol told the Police in a video interview that he had found the pistol four weeks prior and intended to sell it to someone.