Guns and ammo charge against Hinckson dismissed

Oliver Hinckson

Yesterday Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson dismissed the charge of possession of guns and ammunition against former Guyana Defence Force lieutenant Oliver Hinckson.
The matter was thrown out for lack of evidence.
Hinckson, after the dismissal of the charge, expressed gratitude to his attorney Nigel Hughes for expert representation in the matter. He said he was “thankful to the Almighty” and was elated that justice has prevailed.
Hinckson was charged with former GDF member James Gibson for possession of guns and ammunition, and the two men made their first appearance in court on June 12, 2006, before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys and denied the allegations. They were subsequently released on $75,000 bail each.
It was alleged that on June 6, 2006, at 115 Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, Hinckson and Gibson were found with one .38 pistol, 12 live matching rounds and 22 12-gauge shot gun cartridges. Hinckson was represented by Hughes while Gibson was represented by Vic Puran.
Magistrate Gilhuys had issued a warrant for Gibson after he failed to appear in court, but after months had past he decided to recall the warrant for Gibson and precede ex-parte. Gibson was later killed in a shootout between suspected pirates and police at Cromarty, Corentyne, in 2008.
Two months before Hinckson and Gibson were arrested, the army issued wanted bulletins for the men, following the disappearance of 30 AK-47 rifles and five pistols from GDF headquarters.
A charge of sedition against Hinckson is still pending, even as the accused former Army officer is adamant that such a charge no longer exists in the laws of Guyana. Hinckson is to make another court appearance for that charge on February 18.