11 guns linked to 35 shootings
Published:Friday | March 4, 2022 | 12:09 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Eleven firearms that were detected to have been used in the execution of 10 murders reportedly orchestrated by the Clansman-One Don Gang are directly linked to 35 shooting incidents, which include at least 27 other murders, a ballistic expert revealed on Thursday.
The expert, who had arrived at his findings after analysing the evidence such as bullets and spent shell casings that were reportedly recovered from each murder scene, also disclosed that the 11 firearms were also directly linked to 16 other firearms.
The high-ranking police officer explained on Tuesday when he first took the stand that “a direct connection has been established once a gun has been used on the same scene”.
The witness also previously told the court that based on his analysis, which was done with the help of an automated firearm identification system and an information database, five of the 11 guns that were used were identified as multiple-activity firearms, which means that they have been featured in at least two or more incidents.
The names assigned to multiple-activity firearms were Geraldo, Vanquisha, Ersela, Anjanette, and Vonzay.
Ersela, a .45 Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistol, was reportedly taken from defendant Tareek ‘CJ’ James, the reputed leader’s alleged bodyguard, in November 2017, during a shoot-out with the police in Spanish Town, St Catherine. It was found to have been used in the murder of Jermaine Bryan and Cedella Walder, Erwin McLeggon, and Patrick ‘Outlaw’ Tulloch in three separate incidents.
Vonzay was also said to have been used in the murder of McLeggon, a bus driver.
In presenting his conclusions Thursday, the expert witness stated that the firearm Ersela was directly linked to at least six other incidents and eight other firearms. It also featured on at least three separate occasions on one scene with two other firearms.
“A conclusion that was drawn in relation to firearm Ersela, based on the frequency that it is featured on a scene with firearm Vonzay, is that there is a strong association between these two firearms,” he said.
Firearm Vonzay, he further indicated, was directly linked to at least three other incidents and six other firearms. It was also featured on at least three separate occasions on one scene with two other firearms.
Continuing, he said: “Firearm Vanquisha was directly linked to at least five incidents and to at least three other firearms, and I identified two separate occasions where this firearm featured on a scene with at least two other firearms.”
The gun Anjanette was reportedly directly linked to at least 10 incidents and three other firearms. It is said to have featured on two separate occasions on the same scene with two other firearms, and Geraldo had been directly connected to seven firearms and 10 murder scenes.
The evidence presented by the expert witness is to support the prosecution’s claim that the guns that were used in the murders and shootings are all ‘system guns’ – meaning they belonged to the gang and featured in different incidents.
In the meantime, the prosecutor informed the court on Thursday that Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey is to testify next week about why one of the prosecution’s main witnesses, who is a former top-tier member of the gang, was never charged.
Several defence lawyers, as well as Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, had questioned why the witness was never charged.
One senior officer had indicated that the decision was made by his superiors and that he was not privy to the reasons.
Reputed leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan and 32 other alleged gang members are being tried on an indictment with 25 counts under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) Act and the Firearms Act.
The One Don Gang is a breakaway faction of the Clansman Gang.
The trial will resume on Monday.