‘Dog Paw’ unleashed

Reputed gang leader Christopher ‘Dog Paw’ Linton, who was in 2013 sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm, was freed on Wednesday after his conviction was quashed in the Court of Appeal.

Shortly after he was freed Wednesday evening, Linton was reported by Radio Jamaica to have said, “Freedom is a must.”

His co-accused, Micah Allen, who was similarly charged and sentenced, was also freed in the high court.

Both were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, each on the two charges. However, the charges were to run concurrent.

Linton had challenged his conviction on grounds that he had received an unfair trial and that the sentence was harsh and unreasonable, while Allen had appealed on the basis that the quality of the identification evidence was poor and that the no-case submission should have been upheld based on inadequacies in the identification evidence.

Attorney-at-law Robert Fletcher represented Linton, while Patrick Peterkin represented Allen.

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, and police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay all declined comment.