Judge says ‘Blackman’ is a gang leader

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes on Monday declared that he is satisfied with the evidence presented by the main witnesses in the Clansman-One Don trial that a gang does exist and that Andre 'Blackman' Bryan is the leader of the criminal organisation.

Continuing his summation, Sykes referred to a shooting incident in Fisheries, St Catherine, in 2017, of which the second prosecution witness gave a full testimony to the court. In Sykes' analysis of the evidence of the witness' account, he expressed satisfaction that the criteria to establish membership of a criminal organisation was met. He also indicated to the court that accused Ted Prince, Andre Golding and Jahzeel Blake were members of the gang. He indicated that the sole female defendant, Stephanie Cole-Christie, was also a member of the gang as well as Fabian Johnson, citing telephone conversations that were shared during the trial.

"They were planning to do a shooting. The fact that the shooting takes place makes it evidentially stronger, but it is not a legal requirement that the shooting had to take place. Once you come and form this gang, this alliance network, a combination of persons, among three or more and there is the commission of one or more serious offences, then a criminal organisation exists. I am satisfied with the criminal standard with this evidence, a criminal organisation exists or existed, and that having regard to the role that Mr Bryan played in this, he was the leader," the trial judge explained.

Count one and two of the indictment specifically addresses leadership and membership of the organisation respectively. Sykes stated further that the alleged plot to murder a man known as Doolie, later identified to be Damaine Forrester, at a supermarket in St Andrew in 2017 was done at the "behest of Bryan".

The matter was adjourned until today, when Sykes is expected to continue his summation. The trial, which started in 2021, had 33 defendants but five were freed due to insufficient evidence. One accused, who was out on bail, was shot and killed.