All charges against Weston Pickering, a 42-year-old businessman from Lot 2 Somerset Court, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, were dismissed on Monday by Magistrate Dylon Bess in the Diamond Magistrate’s Court 3. Pickering who was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Bernard da Silva, had been charged with the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition since August 2024, but the case was thrown out due to the prosecution’s repeated failure to present its case and provide necessary evidence.
Despite several warnings from the magistrate, the prosecution failed to disclose statements and relevant materials, leading to a peremptory hearing scheduled for Monday morning. However, when the prosecution was still unprepared by 1:30 PM, Magistrate Bess granted the defense’s application for dismissal, ending the case.
Pickering, was arrested on Sunday 11th, August 2024 after police uncovered an illegal AK-47 assault rifle and matching ammunition during a search of his residence. The discovery was made during an intelligence-led operation by officers from the Providence Police Station.
At approximately 18:25 hrs, police officers, led by an Assistant Superintendent, searched Pickering’s home at Lot 2 Somerset Court Housing Scheme for arms, ammunition, and drugs, with Pickering consenting to the search.
During the operation, police discovered an AK-47 rifle wrapped in a brown towel inside a washing machine on the lower flat of the house. Pickering, who did not possess a firearm license, remained silent when informed of the allegations. Officers also found 29 live matching rounds in a magazine and 30 additional live rounds in a pair of black and white socks wrapped in the same towel.
Further searches revealed six live 9mm rounds in a bedroom on the upper floor. Additionally, a large sum of local and foreign currency was found in a brown suitcase, including:
• $11,312 in Canadian currency
• $1,583 in U.S. currency
• 10 Chinese Yuan
• $5,120 in Trinidadian currency
• $70 in Barbadian currency
• $50 in Jamaican currency
• 3,405 Pounds Sterling
• 120 Euros
• $480,000 in Guyanese currency
Pickering was arrested at the scene, and the firearm, ammunition, and cash were transported to the Providence Police Station, where the items were officially logged, counted, and sealed in his presence as part of the ongoing investigation.
