By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 26-year-old farmer from Cotton Tree Village has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison after allegedly being found with an unlicensed firearm and ammunition during a police search at the Castleton Horse Track in Burrell Boom over the Easter weekend.
The accused, Ashton “Asha” Gillett, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate in Court #1 on Tuesday, where he was read two charges: kept unlicensed firearm and kept unlicensed ammunition.
Police allege that Gillett was carrying a grey Everest school bag on his back when officers searched it and discovered a Taurus 9mm pistol with a silver slide marked “Made in Brazil”, along with a magazine containing eight live rounds of 9mm ammunition. Investigators say the firearm was found wrapped inside a pair of jeans located at the top of the bag.
According to police, when first asked whether he had a gun license, Gillett reportedly claimed the documents were in a vehicle parked outside. However, when officers escorted him outside, no vehicle was found, as the driver had already left the area.
Police say Gillett was questioned again and allegedly admitted, “To be honest big man, I nuh have a gun license.” He was then arrested and taken to the Ladyville Police Station, where he was formally charged.
In court, Gillett pleaded not guilty and was granted permission to explain. He told the court that seven men had been traveling in the pickup truck and that more than one of them had an Everest bag. Gillett claimed he mistakenly picked up the wrong bag while getting out of the pan of the truck at the horse track gate.
He said he believed the bag was his and even placed two Bad Man drinks from his pocket into it before walking to the entrance, unaware that it allegedly contained a firearm. Gillett maintained that he consented to the police search because he believed he had nothing illegal in his possession.
Despite his explanation, the Chief Magistrate informed him that because of the nature of the offenses, bail could not be granted at the lower court level. Gillett was therefore remanded to the Belize Central Prison until July 7, 2026.
The post Man busted with gun in Everest schoolbag says it wasn’t his; claims he was traveling in truck with multiple men with the same schoolbag and he picked up the wrong one appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 26-year-old farmer from Cotton Tree Village has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison after allegedly being found with an unlicensed firearm and ammunition during a police search at the Castleton Horse Track in Burrell Boom over the Easter weekend. The accused, Ashton “Asha” Gillett, appeared unrepresented before the
The post Man busted with gun in Everest schoolbag says it wasn’t his; claims he was traveling in truck with multiple men with the same schoolbag and he picked up the wrong one appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
