PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Four men, who were allegedly caught with guns and ammunition on Sunday, were remanded in custody when they appeared in the Port Antonio Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The men, who are all from the parish, are:

* Redford Farr, 38, a truck driver of Dolphin Bay;

* Linden Farr, a 30 year-old construction worker of Johnstown;

* 39 year-old technician, Carl Griffith;

* and businessman Errol McKenzie, 35.

The case is set for hearing on July 29, and all four are charged jointly for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

According to police reports, lawmen, acting upon information, went to Lydart District along the Nonesuch main road on Sunday afternoon. There, cops said, they intercepted a 2000 grey Toyota Corolla motorcar, licensed 1230DG. The allegations are that the car was searched and a black Taurus 9mm millennium pistol with the serial number erased, and ten rounds of 9mm ammunition were found.

In court Tuesday, Resident Magistrate Bethram Morrison instructed the police to have the forensics laboratory test the gun to determine if it has been used in any crimes.

Attorney Yvonne Ridguard, who was sitting in on behalf of Errol McKenzie’s attorney, requested bail but this was denied by RM Morrison. According to the RM, the seriousness of the offence, in a country where gun crimes are already high had influenced his decision not to grant bail.

“With the serial number erased and ten live rounds of ammunition, I cannot offer bail.

It is a serious offense and we can’t let it go like that,” the RM said.

Undaunted, Ridguard pleaded with the RM on the bail application for McKenzie.

“He was taken from the hospital to court and he is a businessman in the town,” she told the court.

But RM Morrison stood his ground.

“The matter has to go to trial and he’s involved in another matter where a man was beaten up and chopped,” he said.

In that case, the court was told that McKenzie, along with Rex Atkinson and Bryan Nathan used a machete to chop the complainant, was used to beat him with a stick and his car seized.

According to the clerk of court, the complainant was in fear for his life and had failed to turn up for court.

When the case was mentioned Tuesday afternoon, attorney Richard Harris asked that the case be adjourned sine die as the complainant appeared unwilling to proceed with the case.

But RM Morrison objected, saying the court had different information, and adding that the complainant was fearful.

“No consideration of bail to be granted now,” RM Morrison stated and asked that the case be called up in the Buff Bay court today.