UCHENCE GANG TRIAL: Gang leader's attorney seeks to have him tried on indictment with fewer charges

The attorney representing reputed gang leader Uchence Wilson this morning sought to have his client tried on the original indictment containing fewer charges.

The trial for Wilson and his 23 alleged gang members is now under way at the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston.

The 20 men and four women are charged with breaches of the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations Act), usually referred to as the Anti-Gang legislation.

During the proceedings, attorney-at-law Lloyd McFarlane, who is representing Wilson, made an application for the use of a January 9 indictment which had 49 counts. 

The indictment was revised on February 25, increasing the number of counts to 53. 

McFarlane argued that Justice Georgiana Fraser, who presided over the case management proceedings, made an order that the indictment on February 9 should be used as is.

But Chief Justice Sykes Bryan Sykes, who is the sitting judge, rejected the application.

Wilson's attorney then made an application for an adjournment for at least a day to review the new indictment.

Sykes also rejected that application, but gave the attorney a 45-minute period in which to do the review.

The court was informed that Constable Stephan Martin, who is one of two police officers charged, will be tried separately.

Detective Corporal Lloyd Knight is also charged. 

The gang was dismantled during operations conducted in St Catherine, Clarendon and the Corporate Area on December 2, 2017 in which 15 key players were taken into custody by the police.

Two crown witnesses will give testimony via video call in accordance with provisions under the Evidence Special Measures Act.
The matter is being tried by judge-alone. 

The prosecution has a total of 39 witnesses.

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