Ex-minister’s sons plead not guilty to guns and ammo charges

John and Joseph Peters, sons of former Minister of Government, Winston “Gypsy” Peters, appeared in the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with illegal possession of guns and ammunition.

They were among seven persons  allegedly held by police on Saturday at a house at Taitt Street, Chaguanas, with three guns and a total of 90 rounds of ammunition. When the matter was called in the Chaguanas First Court shortly before 11am, the two brothers stood in the company of the five other accused persons — including two females — before Magistrate Nanette Forde-John. Standing in a straight line that went all the way across the prisoners’ bench, all seven pleaded “not guilty” and agreed to have their matter tried at the Magistrates’  Court rather than  the High Court.

Apart from John and Joseph Peters, the others charged were Kingsley Antoine, Heidi Kesler, Alicia Lawrence, Cliff Taylor, Delamo Glasglow and Kambuy Lezama. Of the seven, foreign national Heidi Kesler has her own attorney, while Ian Gray represents Kingsley Antoine who has only one leg and appeared in court on crutches. All the others are being represented by Prakash Ramadhar and Brian Debideen. As she read the charges against the accused, Magistrate Forde-John indicated that they were found by police to be in possession of two revolvers and a single 12-gauge shotgun, as well as 64 rounds of .38 special ammunition, four rounds of 9mm ammunition and 22 rounds of 12-guage cartridges. The matter was adjourned to 30 April.