‘Mi glad fi mi freedom’

After spending the last four years and four months in custody on allegations that he was a member of the Clansman-One Don Gang and the don of Waterloo, Pete Miller was all smiles as he sauntered from the Home Circuit Court on Tuesday after expressing immense joy and declaring his freedom for a second chance.

Miller was one of three defendants in the gang trial who were acquitted of charges for being part of a criminal organisation on Tuesday.

The short and small-framed individual, who was often seen in an upbeat mood during the trial and reading from his Gideon Bible, was last week freed of facilitating the gang’s murder of two unidentified men in Rivoli, Spanish Town, in 2018. The victims were said to be from Denham Town, Kingston.

When asked how he was feeling following his acquittal, Miller said, “Mi feel good. Mi glad fi mi freedom.”

According to the 37-year-old, he was not surprised by the judge’s verdict as he was always confident that he would be freed.

“You nuh see how mi ever a laugh. Nutten wa dem say ‘bout mi a nuh true,” he declared.

Miller said he was able to stay motivated and maintained his hope for freedom because of his belief in God and through constant prayer.

While noting that he had missed everything about life on the outside, Miller said he is mostly looking forward to being with his family.

The defendant’s brother, Marco Miller, was also charged and will today hear his fate.

Pete, however, expressed confidence that his brother will be equally victorious.

When asked if he had any message for his friends, who are anticipating their freedom today, he said: “Pray.”

Miller’s spouse, Kerry, whose faith in his freedom never wavered and who had showed up daily since the trial started in September 2021, bringing lunch for her beloved, was beside herself with joy as she celebrated.

“Mi nuh know how fi explain myself, I swear, but mi feel good, but mi know say him did affi come a road ‘cause dem nuh have nothing pon him, and when dem say him did [commit a] murder, him did inna custody,” she said.

Kerry said that it was very taxing on her emotionally and financially, but she is very happy and grateful that he has been freed.

“It hard and it tek money, whole heap a money, but mi just put God before everything. God knows best,” she said, while anxiously waiting for her spouse to be processed and released.

Attorney-at-law Shadae Bailey, who represented Miller, said they are happy that their client was vindicated as the evidence was tenuous.

Kevaugh Green, brother of the reputed gang leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan, and Kalifa Williams were also freed of being a member of the criminal organisation.

Green declined to comment, while Williams was detained as he is involved in another case.

But attorney-at-law Anna-Kay Kelly, who represented Green, said they are satisfied with the verdict.

“The evidence was simply not there against my client,” Kelly said, noting that it is a bittersweet moment for her client, who is leaving his brother behind.

In acquitting Green, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes said there was no evidence detailing his involvement in any criminal activities relating to the gang and that the ex-gangster’s evidence that he was seen with ammunition and would give orders to the community don is not sufficient to ground the charge of being a member.

The ex-gangster, who had given evidence during the trial, had, however, testified that Blackman did not involve his brother in the gang’s dealings as he did not want him in too deep.

In relation to Miller and Williams, the judge accepted the state evidence which placed them in custody during periods in which they were accused of being involved in killings by the gang and attending gang meetings.

Noting that the witness was not definitive about the dates when the men had attended gang meetings, when checked against the dates when they were said to be in state custody, the judge concluded that the evidence would be unreliable.

“One can say the best alibi is to be in state custody,” he said.

Williams’ lawyer, Abina Morris, said she was happy for the verdict.

“The best thing I did – and I am glad that I did it – is get the record from the correction facility,” she said.

“Both men were never on the road at the same time and could not have been at any meetings together,” she said, while noting that there were two counts on the indictment for which he was charged with facilitating murders which were carried out while he was in prison.

Noting that he was previously charged and freed of gang charges, Morris said she is hoping that he will learn from this and use it as a second chance.

Justice Sykes during the proceeding also found Bryan guilty of leadership of a criminal organisation, while his cousin, Tomrick ‘Fancy Ras’ Taylor, was found guilty of being a member of the gang.

Twenty-one defendants remain to hear their fate in relation to being a member.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com