Bail reduced for 7 gun accused

A 68-year-old grandmother and six others (daughter, son and four grandchildren) and a neighbour, who were arrested and charged with the illegal possession of a soldier’s firearm, yesterday had their bail reduced when they appeared before San Fernando Second Court Magistrate Sonia Aleong. Grandmother Cynthia Quashie, who was not in custody, was given bail of $30,000 with a surety, and 16-year-old neighbour Cassie Warner, who is represented by Attorney Ravi Gooljar, managed to secure bail. Warner had been granted bail of $30,000 to be approved. The remaining six accused, who were initially given $75,000 bail, had their bail reduced to $30,000 to be approved. They are Matthew Quashie, Cazemba Quashie, Maxwell Bruce, Shelly Quashie, Shumba Quashie, and Curtis Quashie.

The accused had their bail reduced because the magistrate said it was brought to her attention that the exhibit (a Smith and Wesson pistol) was found five feet away, outside the house, in a fig patch. The eight accused were initially denied bail because they  refused to provide fingerprints on their first court appearance. On that occasion they were ordered to produce their fingerprints for tracing, or be given no bail. According to the charges, at about 10.30 am last Wednesday, a party of officers led by Insp Samlal executed a search warrant at a house on Enid Street in Marabella and found a .9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol. The matter has been adjourned to September 21.