Four charged with unlawful possession of firearm, ammo

Four men on Monday appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court jointly charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Kevon Bunyon, 24, also called ‘Bunny’ of Stanleytown; Quincy Goodheart, 24,  a mason of 540 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Rudolph McCurdy, 27, of Ordnance Fort Lands Housing Scheme, Berbice, also called ‘Rudy’, and Kurt Edwards, 23, a taxi driver of Ordnance Fort Lands Housing Scheme, appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus to answer the weapon related charges.

The charge read that on March 17, at Lot 52 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, they were found in possession of a .38 pistol and one matching live round without being the holders of a firearm license. They were arrested as police were investigating a robbery which occurred on March 15 at a businessplace in Strand, New Amsterdam.

Bunyon and Goodheart both pleaded guilty with explanation on the charges, while McCurdy and Edwards denied the allegations.

Bunyon alleged that on the day in question he took the police to a location and handed over the firearm to them. He said he did not check the weapon and could not say whether it was loaded. He claimed that Goodheart gave him the gun on Wednesday at about 08:00hrs.

The Magistrate asked why he kept it and he responded: “Due to circumstances, I ain’t getting no wuk. He ask me fuh keep the gun fuh he. That is why I plead guilty so I could finish me time quick.”

According to Bunyon, Goodheart did not pay him to keep the gun. Meanwhile, Goodheart, who claimed to be a Jehovah’s Witness, told the court that on Tuesday he collected the gun at about 10:00hrs and then took it to Bunyon. However, due to these explanations not guilty pleas were recorded for the men.  

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sherriff made no objections to bail for McCurdy and Edwards. Bail was set at $100,000 each on the possession of a firearm charge and $60,000 each on the possession of ammunition charge.

McCurdy was able to post bail; however, as he was exiting court he was rearrested and taken into custody. He and the other accused are expected to be back in court today to answer a robbery under arms charge.