Hospital porter freed of gun charges

A man who was charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition was freed today after the sole eyewitness admitted under cross-examination that he was a habitual liar and that he was telling lies on the accused.

Freed was 32-year-old hospital porter Damion Anderson of Bull Bay, St Andrew.

The witness was being cross-examined by attorney-at-law Able-Don Foote when he agreed that he was habitual liar who lied for no reason.

He admitted to telling a lie when he said Anderson was one of the three men who had a firearm on the day of the incident because he was unable to identify the men on the early morning of the incident.

Following the admissions under cross-examination and submissions by Foote that the evidence was unreliable, the prosecution offered no further evidence in the case.

Justice Vaughn Smith returned a formal verdict of not guilty thereby freeing Anderson.

The allegations were that in October 29, 2020, Anderson was one of three men who fired shots and burned down a two-storey house in Bull Bay.

The witness testified in the Gun Court that he was upstairs the house when he saw the three men firing shots into the yard.

He said he could recognise the men due to the fact that nothing was blocking his view.

Under cross-examination by Foote, the witness said he knew that lying under oath was a criminal offence.

He admitted that his evidence in court was a lie based on his statement to the police.

When the witness was shown a photograph from the scene of crime, he agreed that a tree was partially blocking his view and he was not sure who were the three men firing shots.

He said he was traumatised by the incident which happened shortly after 5 a.m., which was before daylight.

He said further that the men were dressed in black pullover hoodies which partially blocked their faces.

Foote submitted after cross-examination that the evidence was unreliable and riddled with lies, therefore Anderson should be freed.

- Barbara Gayle

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