Higgler freed of gun charges

A St Andrew higgler who was accused of shooting a man in his buttock has been freed of gun and wounding charges in the Gun Court.

Bo Nation, 21, of Maxfield Avenue, St Andrew, was on Tuesday found not guilty of wounding with intent and wounding with illegal firearm, following a paper trial.

The complainant, who is now deceased, alleged that on August 6, 2020, about 8 p.m., he was drinking along Maxfield Avenue when men exited a car and started firing.

He ran and while doing so he reportedly felt a shot to his bottom.

According to the complainant, he turned around and saw Nation in a hoodie shooting at him.

Two weeks after the incident, he reported the matter and Nation was arrested in October that year and subsequently charged.

Nation, at the time of his arrest, told the police he was in Trelawny on the day of the shooting and provided an alibi as well as the names of several persons who could vouched for him.

He also gave the police the name of a policeman who saw him in Trelawny on August 7.

The investigator however did not verify Nation's alibi.

Attorney-at-law Kemar Robinson, during the trial, highlighted that on the day in question there was an islandwide 3 p.m. curfew because of COVID-19 and that it would have been impossible for his client to have committed the shooting in Kingston and travel to Trelawny on the same day.

The judge, in finding Nation not guilty, agreed with Robinson that identification would have been difficult in the circumstances.

The judge also indicated that the complainant's death presented a challenge, as there was no opportunity to cross-examine him and get answers to certain questions.

- Tanesha Mundle

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