Taxi driver leads defence in illegal gun, ammo trial

One week after Kacey Chapman was told to lead his defence against the illegal guns and ammunition charges, he took the witness stand to give his testimony into the matter.

Last year, Chapman was charged alongside Sheldon Andrews and Adam McDonald with two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and two counts of illegal possession of ammunition. The charges against Andrews and McDonald were dismissed after the prosecution failed to prove the case against them. However, Chapman was called upon to lead his defence as sufficient evidence was found against him regarding the charges.
The charges against Chapman alleged that on November 26, 2018, at High and Princes Streets, Georgetown, he had a .32 Taurus pistol in his possession while not being a licensed firearm holder. It was also alleged that on the same date, he was in possession of a 9mm Glock pistol without being the licensed firearm holder.
The two final charges stated that on November 26, 2018, at High and Princes streets, Chapman had in his possession 12 live 9mm rounds of ammunition and 7 live rounds of .32 ammunition, without being a licensed firearm holder.
Chapman, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, was called to the witness stand as the defence took over the case before Magistrate Rondel Weaver at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Chapman in his address to the court said that he was driving motorcar HC 6573 around the city when he was stopped by a lone dark-skinned man, who he later identified as McDonald, and asked if he (Chapman) was working. Chapman related that he observed that McDonald had a black haversack on his back.
He went on to say that after he told McDonald that he was working, McDonald told him to take him to “the Gumdac music place”. Chapman claimed that upon arriving at Gumdac, McDonald, who was on the phone at that time, directed him to the Infinity Gas Station on High and Princes Streets. In the vicinity of the said gas station, Chapman said that he was once again directed by McDonald to stop next to a white car at the side of the road.
Chapman claimed that after parking the car at the said location, McDonald told him to “hold on” after which he left, leaving his haversack on the back seat of the car as McDonald was yet to pay him for the drop. He related that as McDonald was walking to the white vehicle, he noticed other vehicles along with the police vehicle heading in their direction in a line. He stated that after McDonald noticed the police vehicle, he began to hastily walk north towards another street.
“The police stopped beside the car and the door opened on the right side and the driver and another rank jumped out and ran and chased behind him [McDonald] and he began running away,” Chapman further stated. However, McDonald was subsequently caught and brought back to the car.
During the time when all of that was happening, Chapman said he noticed Andrews walking along the road. “I saw Sheldon walking and ask where his car was cause I know he does wuk taxi at Confidential Cabs,” Chapman stated. In his response, Andrews reportedly told Chapman that he just came off of work at Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). “It all happen in two minutes,” Chapman claimed.
Chapman testified that the police then turned their attention on him and Andrews, and told them to submit themselves to a search. As the police were searching the car, Chapman said, he observed that they took out a black plastic bag from the haversack, which was on the back seat of the car at the time.
He said that apart from the plastic bag, he noticed that a cap, a pair of boots and a jersey were found in the haversack. The police then reportedly tore open the plastic bag and wrapped in a black jersey were the two firearms. During that time, according to Chapman, McDonald was acting like he wasn’t in the car and telling the police that he isn’t acquainted with the two men, referring to himself and Andrews. “Adam McDonald came into the car with the haversack,” Chapman adamantly ended his testimony.
Thompson then asked Chapman if he was videoing the police as they searched the car. “A colleague of Sheldon was passing same time and he video the thing,” Chapman replied. The video, which Chapman had readily in possession, was subsequently shown to the prosecution and the magistrate. Replying to the question of whether he had knowledge that firearms were in the haversack, Chapman said, “I have no knowledge that a firearm was in the haversack”.
Prosecutor Simone Payne then took over and cross-examined Chapman. She asked him how long was he working as a taxi driver and how long he has known Andrews to which he replied four years and eight months respectively. Payne contended that Chapman was not stopped by a passenger nor did someone get into his car. Chapman in response stated that he was stopped and McDonald entered his car.
He admitted that he was alone in the car when it was parked near the Infinity Gas Station and recalled part of his story of McDonald telling him to wait for him. Payne further contended that Chapman had knowledge of the firearms that were in the haversack. “I didn’t know. How can you work taxi and drive around with firearms in the car?” Chapman retorted. In conclusion, Payne asked Chapman how long he spoke to Andrews and he replied, “I didn’t talk to him long, just asked him where his car was and then we were intercepted by the police while the two others ran after McDonald”.
The defence has one more witness.
The case was adjourned for July 8, 2019.