Eight men, including two former police officers, who were allegedly found with a quantity of firearms and ammunition on Thursday at Continental Park, East Bank Demerara, appeared yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrate's Court.

A large crowd of supporters of the accused and curious onlookers converged on the court compound and surrounding areas during the men's appearance yesterday afternoon.

Former policemen Kevin Saul and Sheldon Westford; Oneil Wilkinson, 27, of 63 Hunter Street, Albouystown; William Mittelholzer, 34, of 109 Atlantic Gardens; Patrick Cadogan; Neville Johnson; Christopher Massay and Sir Lawrence were all remanded to prison by Magistrate Bertlyn Reynolds.

Besides being charged jointly with possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition, Cadogan is separately facing two additional charges of the same nature.

It is alleged that on October 6, 2005 at Continental Park, Cadogan, 23, of 63 Hunter Street, Albouystown had one .357 Magnum revolver. On the same day, Cadogan was allegedly found with six live .357 rounds of ammunition.

Cadogan denied the charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

On that same day also at Continental Park, Cadogan and the other defendants were allegedly found with an inter-dynamic 9 mm Luger and one semi-automatic Beretta.

The defendants allegedly also had 80 9 mm rounds, six .357 rounds and 60 .22 rounds of ammunition in their possession.

They all denied the joint charges of possession of firearms and possession of ammunition.

According to reports, the police uncovered the illegal weapons after a raid was carried out at a house in Continental Park. The items were allegedly found in a bag in the house.

Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh who is representing Cadogan and Wilkinson told the court that his clients were in custody since Thursday. He also added that they were beaten by the police and they were no flight risk.

Lawyer for the other defendants, Paul Fung-A-Fat said the police had beaten his clients around 8 pm on Sunday and forced them into small cages. According to Fung-A-Fat, the men were all on the street standing when the police carried out the raid. He said that no weapons were recovered nor was any confession statement taken.

"The watchman stated that a man brought a black bag and left it in the yard close to a fence while another man confessed to owning the bag with the items," Fung-A-Fat said. The attorney also told the court that the men were working on the house in Continental Park. Saul and Westford both served in the police force for six years. The other men are masons.

Fung-A-Fat said Wilkinson and Cadogan confessed to owning the firearms and ammunition but the police charged all of them.

"If certain actions were taken, these men would not have been charged," Fung-A-Fat said.

Attorney-at-law Vic Puran who is appearing in association with Fung-A-Fat stated that the men were charged without advice. He asked that the Prosecutor, Police Inspector Desiree Fowler, outline to the court the gist of a prima facie case and it would be seen that there was no evidence against the men.

After listening to Puran, the prosecutor told the court that Wilkinson admitted that the cache was found on him and she was objecting to bail for him and Cadogan. She suggested that the others be placed on substantial bail.

However, the magistrate refused to grant the men bail and they were all remanded to prison until October 14 when they will appear before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan in Court One.

As the men were being returned to custody, chaos erupted outside the court and the police were forced to call for back-up to take the men away. In the ensuing confusion, some media personnel were shoved and assaulted by people in the crowd.