Man cries after being cleared of gun charges

A 25-year-old construction worker, who had maintained from the outset that he was being framed, could not hold back his tears of relief on Thursday in the Gun Court after he was freed of charges of shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm.

Javon Nelson was arrested in 2020 and slapped with gun charges following allegations that he chased a man with a revolver and fired eight shots at him in Tavern, St Andrew.

The Papine, St Andrew resident, who also wept openly in the court’s corridor, said that he had spent many agonising nights pondering his fate both at home and during his one-year confinement before the trial.

The possibility of being locked away for 15 years or more also weighed heavily on the Calabar High alumnus’ mind and also caused him to be depressed.

But on Thursday, the construction worker’s fervent belief that God would carry him through was realised.

“When mi hear the judge say mi not guilty, mi just feel light. Mi just feel the presence of God from mi head to mi toe. Mi just feel light.

“The only thing mi could say was ‘Thank you, Judge’, and whisper ‘Thank You, God’,” he recalled during an interview with The Gleaner yesterday.

According to Nelson, it was especially rough while he was locked up.

“It pressure mi head and sometimes mi did wah give up, but [because] mi know say mi never do nothing wrong and ‘cause Father God know everybody heart and mi know inna mi heart say mi never do nothing, that was my motivation,” he said.

Attorney-at-law Kemar Robinson, who represented Nelson, explained that his client was acquitted by Justice Carol Lawrence-Beswick after she found that the main witness was not credible as there were numerous inconsistencies in his evidence.

Further, he said the investigation was also woefully lacking.

“There was no warrant for the man. He was arrested two years after. There was no search for him. The police did not interview any other witnesses, although the complainant said a lot of persons were there. The scene was not processed, there wasn’t any evidence of any spent casing, and there was no evidence of anything damaged,” Robinson said.

The lawyer also highlighted that there was no evidence to support the claim that any shooting had occurred.

When asked how he feels about the complainant now, Nelson said, “Mi just hope the best for him and mi hope him nuh try mess up nobody else life and just mek God do wid him. “

Nelson, in the meantime, said the case has shown him that the justice system is efficient and he plans to continue working in the construction field and to resume classes with hopes of one day becoming a businessman.

Attorney-at-law Matthew Simms also represented the accused.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com