Soldier gets off shooting charge against naked cop
Published:Friday | April 23, 2021 | 12:27 AM
A Jamaica Defence Force corporal who was accused of pointing a firearm at his wife after catching her at their home with a naked policeman is to be sentenced on May 17 after he was found guilty on Thursday of common assault and illegal possession of firearm in the Gun Court.
The 32-year-old soldier, Omar Williams, who had shot the policeman during the dramatic encounter, was, however, found not guilty of shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm charges after his lawyer, Linton Gordon, made a no-case submission at the end of the 10-day trial.
“He was acquitted following a no-case submission on the basis self-defence arose on the Crown’s case, and they did not bring evidence to rebut it,” Gordon told The Gleaner following the ruling.
However, Gordon said that although his client had denied pointing his firearm at his wife, Justice Bertram Morrison believed her testimony and found Williams guilty.
“He is happy to get rid of the main charges but is unhappy that he was convicted on the lesser charges,” the attorney said of his client’s reaction.
Williams, according to his lawyer, claimed that he showed up at his home about 11:30 p.m. and discovered the policeman standing nude in the living room beside his (Williams) wife, who was dressed in lingerie.
The soldier, on turning on the lights, said he saw the policeman push his hands under a cushion that was nearby.
He claimed to have hit the cop in the head, pressed him on what he was doing, and then saw that a gun was under the cushion.
The policeman then grabbed for the weapon and was shot in his shoulder, the corporal insisted.
The injured cop was rushed to hospital and the soldier arrested and charged.
Attorney-at-law Obika Gordon represented Williams.