Court to hear closing arguments in Uchence Wilson Gang trial
Published:Wednesday | July 24, 2019 | 12:24 AMNickoy Wilson/Gleaner Writer
Attorney-at-law Donna McIntosh Bryce-Gayle is this morning expected to present closing arguments on behalf of her client, accused Kenith Wynter, as the Uchence Wilson Gang trial continues at the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston.
Wynter is charged with being a part of a criminal organisation and knowingly facilitating the commission of a serious offence by same.
On Monday, two witnesses from Wynter’s former place of employment took the stand and gave evidence that placed the accused elsewhere on February 17, 2016 and between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.
The prosecution has led evidence that placed Wynter at the scene of two robberies said to have taken place in St Ann on the respective dates.
As the trial continued yesterday, accused Lanworth Geohagen, who is facing similar charges, gave an unsworn statement, denying being a part of a criminal organisation and committing crimes.
“I hear about robbery of Axio motor cars, I don’t know of any robbery of Axio motor cars. I hear about robbery of two guns in Kellits [which] I don’t know anything about. I am not a part of any robbery of such,” said Geohagen.
The 37-year-old father of three also denied knowing the other 17 alleged gang members.
“I don’t know any of these guys I am charged with. Since I come to court, I interact with them,” he said.
Later in the proceedings, accused former pawn shop employee Ricardo Serju, who is charged with providing a benefit to a criminal organisation, denied doing so.
A Crown witness, who claims to be an ex-member of the gang, previously identified Serju as one of the main persons he interacted with at a St Andrew-based pawn store to discard of stolen items. The witness asserted that Serju was aware of the gang’s existence.
His attorney-at-law, Jacqueline Cummings, asked, “Did you, at any time, bend any of the rules to facilitate them?”
“No,” said Serju, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“Were any words said to you that would give you the impression that they were [members of] a criminal organisation?” Cummings then asked.
“No,” he said.
She then asked, “Did you knowingly facilitate a criminal organisation?”
“No. At no point in time,” he said.
He maintained this position under cross-examination by the prosecution.
Wilson and his 17 alleged cronies are on trial for breaches of the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act 2014, commonly known as the Anti-Gang Legislation, between 2015 and 2017.
They are also being tried for breaches of the Firearms Act.