Man accused of shooting at police freed

A Kingston man who spent three years behind bars after police accused him of firing at them has been freed of gun charges after he was vindicated by DNA evidence.

Thirty-three-year-old Damali Shand, of Waltham Park, was found not guilty of illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent in the High Court Division of the Gun Court last week Monday.

He was freed after the judge ruled that he had no case to answer following submissions by attorney-at-law Kemar Robinson during trial.

Shand, who was believed to have been shot by police and injured in the buttocks, back of his head and back, was blamed for a gun that was reportedly found close to where he was shot.

But Shand had denied that a firearm was found close to him or that he was involved in any shootout with police officers.

DNA evidence at the trial further revealed that his fingerprints were not found on the firearm.

The prosecution had alleged that on May 1, 2021, police officers attached to the Hunts Bay Police Station were responding to a shooting incident involving armed men in Betty Lane, off Waltham Park in Kingston, when they were fired upon by a group of men, including Shand.

The police officers fired back at the men and shortly thereafter Shand was found suffering from gunshot injuries.

He was subsequently arrested and charged and remained in custody without bail until his trial began on May 27.

Shand had said he was on his way to pick up his one-year-old son around noon on May 1, when he was shot and injured.

Following his acquittal, Shand expressed joy at the opportunity to be reunited with his four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter.

- Tanesha Mundle

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