‘Dog Paw’ and co-accused walk free

The attorney for Micha Allen, who was set free along with alleged gang leader Christopher 'Dog Paw' Linton by the Court of Appeal yesterday of gun charges, cited poor identification as the reason for the decision.

Patrick Peterkin represented Allen, who was sentenced with Linton in May 2013 to 15 years' imprisonment for shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm. They were accused of shooting at two policemen travelling in a service vehicle along Tavern Drive, St Andrew, in April 2010.

Assessing the evidence

"The grounds on which they were ordered to be free surrounded the quality of their identity to the conviction. The court, in assessing the evidence under which they were convicted, have come to the conclusion that the conviction should be squashed," Peterkin told THE STAR. He opined that the men should be treated and viewed as regular citizens since the judicial system has proven their innocence.

"These men have gone through a judicial process and at this stage their convictions were squashed and they are free. That goes to show everybody how the system works because once somebody is being prosecuted, there has to be evidence that comes to a particular standard," he said. "I know that my client's family is happy that he is free and he has had a lot of years to reflect on as much as possible and assess himself as a person." Attempts to contact Linton's attorney, Robert Fletcher, were futile.

- A.D.