Ex-gangster denies testifying to save his own skin

A former member of the One Don Gang yesterday testified that he was prepared to go to prison in order to put an end to the gang's bloodshed.

The prosecution's second star witness testified in the Home Circuit Court that he had voluntarily gone to the police with information on the gang in 2018 after he had first tried in 2017 but got cold feet.

"I tell myself that even if I was charged at the end of the day, I would still go as it was my mission to stop the gang killings," he said. The witness made the declaration while being questioned by Lloyd McFarlane, lead attorney for the reputed gang leader Andre 'Blackman' Bryan. McFarlane sought to establish that the witness was testifying to save himself.

But the witness insisted that he was doing his country a civic duty. When asked why he was not charged by police despite being a confessed gang member and being involved in murders, the witness told the lawyer "ask the security force".

During further cross-examination, the ex-gangster also testified that he was forced by Bryan to join the gang and that he had to carry out his orders or be killed, adding that he was still afraid of Bryan.

"I am not a crime producer," the prosecution witness declared. McFarlane, however, asked if he was a top-tier member of the gang and a don, to which he replied yes.

"So when you were busy programming people like Doolie, you weren't a crime producer?" McFarlane pressed. The witness had testified that he was the person who pointed out his friend Doolie to members of the gang when he was killed on Chancery Street in St Andrew in 2017 and that he was the one who went to his workplace to ensure that he was there.

In his defence, he said "I was wrong but I didn't have a choice. Is either I go there and do it or I'll be killed." The witness will continue his cross-examination on Thursday as Chief Justice Bryan Sykes has granted a request from the other defence lawyers for time to prepare for their cross-examination. The first witness will return to court today to complete his cross-examination.