Days after a shop owner told the court he purchased a gun for protection, he was today sentenced to one year behind bars for the possession of the illegal firearm and ammunition.
Ricolido Kyte, 31, of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was this morning sentenced by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is alleged that on July 30 at Meloge Landing, Cuyuni River, Essequibo, he had in his possession two live 12 gauge cartridges without being a licensed firearm holder.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he had in his possession one 12 gauge shotgun without being a licensed firearm holder.
Kyte pleaded guilty to both charges on his first court appearance before Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus.
This morning when the matter was called, attorney-at-law George Thomas asked that Kyte be given a suspended sentence due to the circumstances under which the gun was purchased.
The magistrate, in handing down the sentence said, “You know what you did was wrong and you should have done it legally but I’m not going to give you a heavy sentence.”
Hence, she sentenced him to one year in prison on the grounds that he was remorseful and did not waste the court time.
According to information, on the day in question at around 11:15 hrs, ranks acting on information went to the defendant’s shop where they requested to carry out a search.
The court heard that while searching the premises, a rank found the gun in a bedroom. Kyte was then told of the offence to which he admitted ownership of the weapon. He was taken into custody and charged.
