Alleged gangster walks despite cop’s testimony
Published:Tuesday | October 12, 2021 | 12:07 AM
An alleged member of the Easy Scream Gang who was last year arrested and charged for reportedly firing at a policeman was found not guilty of gun and assault charges in the Gun Court on Friday.
Ian Sommerville, 28, otherwise called 'Buju', of Wellington Street in Kingston, was found not guilty of illegal possession of firearm and assault at common law in a judge-alone trial before Justice Leighton Pusey.
Sommerville was arrested last September following an alleged shooting incident in which he was wounded on Darling Street in Kingston.
According to the statement of the police constable, he and a police sergeant were driving along Darling Street about 11:30 a.m. on September 25 when, on reaching the vicinity of the Lizard Town car park, he saw Sommerville and notified his superior before exiting the vehicle.
Wanted for murder
Sommerville was reportedly wanted by the police for murder.
The constable said Sommerville was about four feet away from him when he shouted out his name and instructed him not to move. However, Sommerville allegedly pulled a firearm from his waistband, fired, and ran into the market.
The officer said he chased the alleged gangster who, on reaching the market entrance, again pulled his firearm. The cop fired at Sommerville.
During the chase, the police said he saw Sommerville throw away the gun and continue running until he exited the market and ran towards Tivoli Gardens.
The policeman said he was assisted by the sergeant in dragging Sommerville from beneath a van. The cop claimed to have noticed Sommerville bleeding and took him to the Kingston Public Hospital for treatment.
However, the cop said he and others then returned to the market to retrieve the gun but were unable to do so because of a large hostile crowd which had gathered.
Attorney-at-law Shamar Hanson, who represented Sommerville, said that his client had always maintained that he had no weapon.
According to Hanson, the judge, in arriving at a verdict, found his client to be more credible.
“The judge didn't believe their story basically. He found my client's evidence more credible than the officers' evidence,” said the lawyer.
Sommerville, however, remains in custody in relation to the alleged murder of Jerome Harris in Denham Town, where the Easy Scream Gang is said to be based.