Gang accused revel in freedom

After spending five years and five months in prison in connection with his alleged involvement in the Clansman-One Don Gang, Damaine Elliston’s main wish as a free man is to reunite with his six-year-old daughter.

“Mi wah send fi her ‘cause a from she born, mi deh inna lock-up,” an ecstatic Elliston told The Gleaner shortly before he was whisked away Thursday from the Supreme Court in the company of his girlfriend and other jubilant relatives.

The 26-year-old livestock farmer was among four defendants who, on Thursday, were found not guilty of breaches of the anti-gang legislation after the prosecution conceded that there was insufficient evidence.

The other three equally elated exonerees were Owen Ormsby, Rivaldo Hylton, and Roshane Williams.

Elliston, who was previously overheard during a break in one of the sittings telling someone that he would be freed in two weeks, said that he was not surprised by the verdict as he had anticipated it since he was charged.

He insists that he had never been involved in criminal acts or been a member of the gang.

“A bare false charges,” he said.

When asked what advice he would have for youths contemplating getting involved in crime, Elliston said: “Badness nuh pay none at all. Just stay inna school like Kartel say and get you education and make you parents proud.”

Vybz Kartel is the stage name of dancehall entertainer Adidja Palmer, who is currently serving a sentence of more than 30 years for murder.

In the meantime, Elliston said he will return to livestock farming.

He said he hopes the remaining defendants, too, “will buss the case” as “jail no nice”.

A beaming Orsmby, who had spent the last two years and seven months in prison, said he views his freedom as a second chance.

“I plan to make the best use of this chance,” he said, adding that he plans to migrate as he does not see a future in Jamaica.

He lamented the charges against him, claiming that he was implicated simply because of his associations.

However, he said: “God a God, and mi give thanks. Mi never expect this today, but mi feel good.”

His girlfriend, who waited patiently all day for him to be released and could not stop smiling, said she knew he would have be freed although she, too, had not expected that it would have happened so soon.

“Mi always have faith say him a go come out ‘cause mi pray about it, and when mi go church, mi send down di prayers fi dem and mi tell him fi pray, too,” she said.

When asked how they will celebrate, she said, with laugh: “Mi cah tell you di plan the way mi feel good.”

The four men were among 32 males, including alleged gang leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan, and a female, Stephanie Christie, who were charged on an indictment with 25 counts under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) Act and the Firearms Act for crimes allegedly committed between 2015 and 2019.

The offences for which they are charged include leadership of a criminal organisation, being part of a criminal organisation, illegal possession of firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition and facilitating the commission of murder, conspiracy to murder and arson.

Meanwhile, during Thursday’s proceedings, lawyers for 12 of the remaining defendants beseeched Chief Justice Bryan Sykes to find that their clients do not have a case to answer as the Crown has not provided sufficient evidence to ground the charges against them.

The lawyers all argued that the prosecution has not fulfilled the elements that are required to prove that their clients were a member of the criminal entity and, essentially, have nothing other than the say-so of the two main witnesses, who are ex-gang members who both have their own interests to serve.

The Crown has indicated its intention to discontinue pursuing six of the counts on the indictment, including five in which Bryan was charged. He is now left to face 12 counts.

The lawyers for the other defendants will continue to make their submissions when the case resumes on Monday.