THREE MEN CHARGED with the big weapons find at Kingston Wharves in February were again remanded when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Andrew Brown, Hugh Richards and Clinton Edwards are charged in connection with the 16 guns and 800 assorted rounds of ammunition which were found on February 15.
Edwards and Richards are charged with 24 counts of conspiracy to deceive and conspiracy to import guns and ammunition into the island. Brown is charged with 42 counts of conspiracy to deceive, making false declaration and uttering false documents in an attempt to obtain a package with guns and ammunition. He is also charged with conspiracy to import firearms and ammunition into the island.
When the matter came up for mention before RM Martin Gayle, the representative from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the courts that the phone records were now ready. He said they were yet to receive the ballistic reports for the weapons and recommended that the men be held in custody until the matter was mentioned again.
But, K. Churchill Neita, who spoke on behalf of the accused men, said the men should be granted bail as the crown was still not ready. He said the men had been in the lock-up for seven months and should receive bail.
But, RM Gayle agreed with the crown and remanded until November 23 when the crown is expected to be ready for trial.
The Crown is alleging that at about 2.30 p.m. on February 15, Brown went to Kingston Wharves to collect a shipment. When customs officers began opening the box, Brown got a telephone call and allegedly ran away from the area.
It is further alleged that Richards paid Edwards money to clear the shipment and Brown allegedly went to collect the package. Following intensive investigations, the men were arrested and charged by policemen from the Organised Crime Unit.
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