‘Blackman’ found guilty of killing St Catherine couple

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes yesterday found reputed leader of the Clansman-One Don Gang, Andre 'Blackman' Bryan, guilty in relation to two more criminal charges.

The verdicts were handed down when proceedings resumed in the Home Circuit Court. Bryan was found guilty of knowingly facilitating the gang's double murder of couple Jermaine Bryan and Cedella Walder in New Nursery Fisheries, St Catherine, and the setting of their house on fire on September 9, 2017. Bryan's co-defendants, Jahzeel Blake, Dylan McLean and Tareek James, were also found guilty of knowingly facilitating the commission of murder by a criminal organisation. The four men were also convicted of knowingly facilitating arson of a dwelling house. But two alleged members, Brian Morris and Michael Whitely, were found not guilty for facilitating the gang's commission of the double murder and arson.

The gangsters reportedly torched the house with the couple inside after shooting them. Their bodies, which were burnt beyond recognition, were found huddled together. Two self-confessed members of the gang had testified that Bryan had planned the attack during a search for a man known as 'Bobo Sparks', an alleged top shooter of a rival faction of the gang and community don of Fisheries. The prosecution's two main witnesses had also testified that before the attack, Bryan held a meeting on Jones Avenue in Spanish Town.

One of the ex-gangsters, who was the gang's banker, said that during the meeting, Bryan instructed him to patrol the roads near the community to ensure that no police were in sight and also that he had observed a crate of bottle bombs during the gathering. The other former top-tier member had testified that he was present during the attack and saw James and Bryan executing the couple.

Twenty-six alleged gangsters including Bryan are still before the court as 24 of them still have to answer to being a member of a criminal organisation, while Bryan has to answer to leadership of the gang.